Popular TikTok star Khaby Lame, known for his silent comedic reactions, was detained by U.S. immigration officials in Las Vegas last Friday for allegedly overstaying his visa. According to ICE, he entered the country on April 30 and “overstayed the terms of his visa.” Although he voluntarily departed on June 6, no formal deportation order was issued, allowing him to return in the future
Khaby’s departure closely follows a wave of President Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement. His administration has ramped up arrest raids, workplace sweeps, and daily deportation targets, reportedly up to 3,000 arrests per day. ICE and the National Guard have been deployed in cities like Los Angeles to carry out these operations, sparking public protests.
These measures include sweeping crackdowns under Executive Order 14159, which expands the use of expedited removal, allowing undocumented individuals to be deported without a court hearing, and legally empowers state and local law enforcement to assist in immigration enforcement. Notably, Khaby’s case demonstrates how even high-profile individuals face the same stringent scrutiny.
Trump’s policies also include “Project Homecoming,” which offers undocumented immigrants $1,000 and a free plane ticket to encourage voluntary departure, as well as controversial plans to detain “criminal” non-citizens in places like Guantánamo Bay under the Laken Riley Act. ACLU and other groups are currently challenging these moves in court, citing civil rights violations.
Although his departure was voluntary, Khaby’s visa violation was short, only about five weeks. Yet it quickly triggered action, showing that Trump’s immigration crackdown isn’t limited to undocumented migrants but also visa‑holders. His status as a global celebrity did not grant him leniency, signaling how far-reaching the policy has become.
