Khaby Lame deported from US under Trump immigration crackdown, resurfaces in Italy with social media update

TikTok’s most-followed creator Khaby Lame returns to Italy after US deportation amid Trump’s revived policies.

TikTok star Khaby Lame has reappeared on social media days after being swept up in former President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement campaign.

Lame, 25, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 6 at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas for overstaying his visa. He had arrived in the United States on April 30. ICE, in an official statement, confirmed: “Seringe Khabane Lame, 25, a citizen of Italy, was detained… for immigration violations.” The agency noted that Lame was granted “voluntary departure” and has since left the country.

Now back in Italy, the Senegal-born content creator resumed posting on Instagram, sharing serene images of himself walking along a leafy Italian street and posing with Brazilian soccer player Emerson Royal, who plays for AC Milan. One post featured an image of Venice Beach paired with 2Pac’s “Keep Ya Head Up,” suggesting a reflective farewell to the U.S.

Lame’s deportation ignited debate across social media, with critics questioning the rationale behind detaining an Italian citizen known for his global popularity and commercial partnerships. Lame, who boasts over 162 million TikTok followers, has worked with major brands like Doritos, Boss, and Binance. His rise to fame began during the pandemic, when his silent reaction videos mocking overly complex “life hacks” went viral.

In 2022, following public pressure, Italy formally granted Lame citizenship. Since then, he has walked the Milan Fashion Week runway, attended the Met Gala, and served as assistant coach at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

Though he has yet to issue a public statement about the incident, Lame’s signature shrug — and silence — appear to say it all. His name no longer appears in ICE’s detainee database.