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TikToker 'Khaby Lame' Detained By Immigration Agents In Las Vegas. Here's What We Know
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Khabane 'Khaby' Lame, TikTok star who holds Sengalese and Italian citizenship, was detained by immigrant agents for allegedly overstaying his visa.
Social media influencer Khabane 'Khaby' Lame, whose silent videos achieved global popularity, was detained by US immigration agents for allegedly overstaying his visa, according to authorities on Saturday.
'US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Seringe Khabane Lame, 25, a citizen of Italy, June 6, at the Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, for immigration violations," the agency said in a statement on AFP.
Lame, who holds Senegalese and Italian citizenship, holds the top spot on the popular TikTok social media platform with 162.2 million followers. He rose to fame for his silent videos mocking over-the-top tutorials and tips on the internet.
Why Was Khaby Lame Detained?
Earlier, political activist Bo Loudon, who reported Lame as an 'illegal alien', said the TikToker was arrested by ICE agents and was held at the Henderson Detention Centre in Nevada. 'I discovered he was illegal who overstayed an invalid VISA, evaded taxes, and I personally took action to have him deported," said Loudon.
The ICE confirmed Lame's arrest, saying he had entered the United States on April 30 and 'overstayed the terms of his visa". The agency said he was detained on Friday and released on the same day.
Lame has since voluntarily departed the United States, the ICE said. He was granted voluntary departure on June 6 and has since left the country. The TikToker has not immediately posted publicly about the incident so far.
Who Is Khaby Lame?
He is known for his famous 'Khaby move" – using facial expressions and a trademark gesture to mock over-the-top tutorials. He became TikTok's most-followed user in June 2022, surpassing Charli D'Amelio.
The idea for his content came to him while wandering around the housing project where his family lived in Chivasso, near Turin, after losing his factory mechanic's job in March 2020.
As per reports, Lame earned $750,000 from a major Hollywood studio for one TikTok video and has a net worth of $16 million through brand deals with Hugo Boss, Fortnite and Walmart, among others. He also appeared in Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) starring Will Smith. He has been recognised in Forbes' 30 Under 30 and Fortune's 40 Under 40.
(with agency inputs)
First Published:
June 08, 2025, 08:33 IST
