Social media superstar Khaby Lame just landed in serious trouble with U.S. immigration after what should’ve been a routine airport arrival. The Italian TikTok sensation, best known for his viral silent reaction videos, was reportedly detained by ICE last Friday at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The Khaby Lame Vegas arrest stunned fans and sparked immediate speculation, with sources claiming visa issues may have triggered the sudden stop. His team has yet to comment, but the incident is already blowing up online.
The reason? Allegedly overstaying his visa. That’s right, Khaby Lame, with his 162 million TikTok followers and 80 million Instagram fans, was taken into ICE custody for immigration violations during his visit to the United States.
In a statement to Men’s Journal, ICE officials confirmed the detention, saying, “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 added that Lame had entered the country on April 30 but failed to comply with the terms of his visa. However, the chaos didn’t last long, Lame was granted voluntary departure on the same day and has since exited the country.
This unexpected development blew up online after political activist Bo Loudon posted about it on X (formerly Twitter), claiming he had a hand in getting Lame detained. Referring to him as an “illegal alien,” Loudon claimed Lame had overstayed an “invalid VISA,” evaded taxes, and that he personally alerted immigration authorities. In his post, Loudon said, “I discovered he was illegal, having overstayed an invalid VISA and evaded taxes, and I personally took action to have him deported.” He even alleged that he worked alongside “the patriots at President Trump’s DHS to make this happen.”
The internet, of course, erupted with reactions. Some fans were shocked, others skeptical, and many rallied behind Lame, pointing out that a voluntary departure is not the same as a deportation. Still, the whole ordeal raised eyebrows and questions about how international influencers navigate US immigration laws when visiting for extended periods, work gigs, or appearances.
Khaby Lame, who was born in Senegal and later became an Italian citizen, skyrocketed to global fame during the Covid-19 pandemic. He built his empire by keeping it simple, no flashy stunts, no spoken words, just perfectly timed, sarcastic facial expressions that mocked overly complicated life hacks. His content quickly resonated worldwide, turning him into one of the most followed creators on TikTok.
Beyond TikTok, Lame has made waves in the business and celebrity world, earning spots on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and Fortune’s 40 Under 40. From brand collaborations to red carpet appearances, he’s become a global face of Gen Z humor. So naturally, news of his visa incident made headlines just as quickly as one of his viral posts.
Whether this was a paperwork slip-up, an unfortunate misunderstanding, or something deeper remains to be seen. What’s certain is that Khaby Lame is no stranger to bouncing back. After all, this is the guy who turned silence and side-eye into a full-blown social media empire. For now, though, he’s out of the US, voluntarily, and fans are left wondering when and how he’ll make his return.
With ICE tightening up checks and social media stars crossing borders frequently for content and collaborations, Khaby Lame’s situation might just be a warning shot to influencers everywhere: stay on top of your visa game.
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