TikTok Star Khaby Lame Deported from U.S. Over Visa Violation Amid Political Firestorm
Khaby Lame, the world’s most-followed TikTok personality, has been deported from the United States for allegedly overstaying his visa.
The 25-year-old Italian-Senegalese influencer, known for his iconic silent reactions to absurd “life hacks,” was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last Friday at Las Vegas’s Harry Reid International Airport.
Lame, who boasts over 160 million followers on TikTok, had been in the U.S. since April 30.
According to ICE, he overstayed the terms of his visa, leading to his detention and a voluntary departure order issued the same day. He has since left the country, with his next known location being São Paulo, Brazil, as revealed in a recent Instagram story.
What has further ignited controversy is that the tip-off to ICE reportedly came from a Trump-aligned Gen Z activist, Bo Loudon, who took credit for Lame’s removal on social media. In a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), Loudon claimed:
“When I found out the biggest TikTok star, Khaby Lame, is an illegal alien evading taxes, I worked with Trump’s ICE to have him removed.”
Loudon, who frequently posts photos with Donald Trump and members of his inner circle, told online streamer Dylan Page that he made “a few calls to the top” after hearing rumors about Lame’s legal status. He also accused Lame of being politically hostile to the Trump movement, though there is no public record of the TikToker making political statements of any kind.
Khaby Lame has yet to issue a public statement regarding his deportation. Multiple media outlets, including The New York Times, have reached out for comment but received no response. His former attorney, Riccardo Lanzo, acknowledged that Lame had spent considerable time in the U.S. but admitted he was “unsure about his visa situation.”
Lame’s deportation comes during a renewed immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump’s current administration. ICE has recently escalated enforcement actions, including against high-profile figures like influencers and celebrities—an unusual move that signals the administration’s aggressive approach to immigration policy.
Khaby’s success story—from factory worker to global sensation—has been nothing short of extraordinary. With brand deals, a fashion runway debut, a Hollywood cameo, and even a reality show on Tubi titled Khaby Is Coming To America, his rise has been meteoric. But now, his American chapter appears to have come to an abrupt halt.
