Famous TikToker Khaby Lame, who gained worldwide fame, was detained by U.S. authorities after his visa expired, following which he voluntarily left the United States.
According to the Associated Press, Khaby Lame, who resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, was taken into custody after his U.S. visa had expired. A spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement stated that after being detained at Harry Reid International Airport, he was allowed to leave voluntarily without being formally deported.
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Khaby Lame had visited the U.S. on April 30, but was found to have violated immigration laws by staying beyond the allowed visa period. According to sources, the Associated Press tried to get a statement from him via email, but he has not yet responded.
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Khaby Lame’s arrest and departure from the country comes at a time when, due to former President Donald Trump’s renewed political influence, strict measures are being taken against illegal immigrants in the U.S.
Government crackdowns in the states of California and Texas have triggered public backlash, where thousands of people took to the streets to protest the government’s immigration policy, which later turned violent. To control the situation, National Guards have been deployed in both states.
It is noteworthy that if a foreign national voluntarily departs from the U.S., they can apply for re-entry on a legal visa in the future. However, in the case of forced deportation, entry into the U.S. is banned for up to 10 years.
Born in the African country of Senegal, 25-year-old Khaby Lame later acquired Italian citizenship. He rose to global fame during the COVID-19 pandemic when he created short, humorous videos using only facial expressions and no words, which became immensely popular. His TikTok followers now exceed 162 million.
