TikTok star Khaby Lame briefly detained by US immigration authorities

US immigration officials detained and subsequently permitted the "voluntary departure" of Khaby Lame, the world’s most-followed TikTok creator, after he reportedly exceeded his visa’s allowed stay, authorities revealed on Saturday.

According to a statement provided to AFP, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took custody of Seringe Khabane Lame, a 25-year-old Italian citizen, on June 6 at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, due to immigration violations.

Lame had arrived in the U.S. on April 30 but remained beyond the duration permitted by his visa, leading to his detention on Friday. He was released later that same day.

The Italian citizen, who serves as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador and boasts over 162 million followers on TikTok, has since left the United States.

As of Saturday afternoon, Lame had not made any public comments regarding the incident.

Since taking office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed through his campaign pledges to strengthen immigration enforcement and initiate large-scale deportation measures that have faced legal challenges in American courts.

Lame holds the top spot on TikTok, the immensely popular social media platform, with 162.2 million followers. He gained fame for his brief, silent videos that humorously critique the complicated online tutorials and life hacks.

His signature move involves spreading his palms upward with a knowing smile and wide-eyed expression, offering simple, straightforward solutions in contrast to the overcomplicated advice he mocks.

Lame’s content idea originated while he was walking around the housing complex where his family lived in Chivasso, near Turin, after losing his job as a factory mechanic in March 2020.

His videos quickly gained popularity, earning him an estimated $16.5 million from brand partnerships between June 2022 and September 2023, Forbes reports.