Khaby Lame, the world’s most popular TikTok personality with over 163 million followers, has left the United States after being detained by immigration agents due to allegedly overstaying his visa, The Associated Press reports.
The Italian-Senegalese influencer, 25, whose real name is Seringe Khabane Lame, was detained this past Friday at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
Lame had entered the U.S. on April 30. According to a spokesperson from ICE to the Associated Press, the influencer allegedly “overstayed the terms of his visa.” He was then given the option of voluntarily departing the country after being detained. Lame then left shortly after. Those who accept the option of leaving the country on their own volition avoid receiving a deportation order, which would prevent them from returning to the US for up to a decade.
The influencer’s departure comes amid President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration and escalation of using raids within hospitals, places of business, and cities such as Los Angeles that have seen numerous protests over the past couple of days.
Lame was born in Senegal but moved to Italy as a child, where he is now a citizen. He was named one of People’s Creators of the Year in 2024 after being a sensation with his brand of “life tips.”
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Murjani Rawls may be reached at mrawls@njadvancemedia.com