Serigne Khabane Lame, globally recognized as Khaby Lame, the world's most followed TikTok personality, has voluntarily departed the United States. The 25-year-old Senegalese-Italian social media influencer, who commands an audience of 162 million on TikTok, 80 million on Instagram, and 12.5 million subscribers on YouTube, is renowned for his comedic videos where he humorously simplifies overly complicated "life hacks."

Lame entered the United States on April 30 using a temporary visa. During his stay, he attended prominent events, including the MET Gala in New York City. Subsequently, he was temporarily detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Las Vegas. Reports indicate the detainment occurred on June 6 at the Harry Reid International Airport. According to ICE, Lame had violated the terms of his visa, with some sources specifying that the violation was related to overstaying these terms.

Following his brief detention, Khaby Lame was granted a voluntary departure on June 6. He has since left the U.S., choosing to self-deport at his own expense. An ICE spokesperson officially confirmed his departure from the country. Shortly after, Lame shared an image on his Instagram story with the location tagged as São Paulo, Brazil.

The option of voluntary departure, also known as self-deportation, allows individuals involved in immigration cases to leave the U.S. by their own means within a designated timeframe. This process helps them avoid a formal deportation order. The U.S. Department of Justice highlights that a key benefit is the absence of a deportation order on their immigration record, which could otherwise bar re-entry for up to ten years or negatively impact eligibility for future immigration benefits. Opting for voluntary departure can facilitate a potentially quicker return to the U.S. and preserve more pathways for lawful re-entry, such as applying for a visa from their home country or having U.S.-based family members petition for their legal entry.

The source texts report that Lame's detainment and subsequent departure took place against a backdrop of heightened immigration enforcement in the United States. This context was described in the reports as involving a crackdown on illegal immigrants and increased deportations under initiatives attributed to US President Donald Trump.