Khaby Lame, one of the world’s most popular social media personalities, was briefly detained during his visit to the United States, sparking a sense of worry among his fans.
The TikTok star reportedly overstayed his visa after arriving in the US on April 30 for the last month’s Met Gala in New York City, and was taken into custody by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Las Vegas.
However, he later left the states without receiving a deportation order.
Lame, whose legal name is Seringe Khabane Lame, was apprehended on last Friday at Harry Reid International Airport. An ICE spokesperson confirmed that he was allowed to depart voluntarily, which prevents a deportation order from being added to his immigration record, reported Euro News.
Such an order could potentially bar him from returning to the US for up to a decade.
The 25-year-old influencer’s detainment coincides with President Donald Trump’s intensified crackdown on immigration policies, which has led to protests against ICE, particularly in response to recent raids in Los Angeles.
Lame gained international fame through his TikTok videos, which he creates without speaking. He humorously reacts to absurdly complicated “life hacks” and has amassed over 162 million followers on the platform.
