TikTok sensation Khaby Lame, whose silent reactions have earned him over 162 million followers, has left the U.S. after a brief detainment by immigration agents in Las Vegas. The 25-year-old Senegalese-Italian influencer arrived on April 30 and, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, overstayed the terms of his visa. Granted voluntary departure, he avoids a formal deportation order β and a possible decade-long ban on reentering the country.
Lame catapulted to global fame during the pandemic with wordless sketches that poke fun at convoluted life hacks. After moving to Italy as an infant with his working-class parents, he parlayed his online popularity into a multi-year partnership with Hugo Boss in 2022 and was named a UNICEF goodwill ambassador this January. Just days after landing in the U.S., he made a star turn at the Met Gala in New York City.
His detainment and voluntary departure come amid President Donald Trump's escalating immigration crackdown, which has sparked protests in Los Angeles and beyond over ICE raids. For digital nomads and creators navigating visa regulations, Lame's experience highlights the tightrope between global mobility and red tape.
As he heads back to Europe, Lame's story resonates with millions of young global citizens: a reminder that even the biggest viral stars must balance creative ambitions with the complex rules of international travel.
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TikTok star Khaby Lame leaves U.S. after being detained by ICE
cgtn.com
