Khaby Lame, the world’s most-followed TikTok creator, was briefly detained and expelled from the U.S. after an alleged visa overstay—an incident now entangled in political drama after a MAGA teen influencer claimed credit for alerting ICE.
At a Glance
- Khaby Lame was detained by ICE at a Las Vegas airport for an alleged visa overstay.
- He was granted voluntary departure and left the U.S. the same day.
- Influencer Bo Loudon claimed he tipped off ICE about the overstay.
- ICE confirmed the detention but did not credit Loudon for the report.
- The incident has sparked backlash and debate over politicized enforcement.
Khaby Lame’s Exit Sparks Digital Uproar
The global TikTok sensation, known for his silent, comedic takedowns of overly complex life hacks, found himself in the middle of an immigration scandal after he was stopped by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 6 at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. According to The Guardian, Lame had overstayed his visa following his April 30 arrival for the Met Gala.
While ICE confirmed Lame was detained and granted voluntary departure, avoiding a formal deportation, controversy erupted online when Bo Loudon, a teenage pro-Trump influencer and self-described best friend of Barron Trump, claimed on social media that he personally reported Lame to ICE.
Watch a report: TikTok star detained by ICE, leaves US amid Trump immigration crackdown.
Bo Loudon’s Claim Fuels Firestorm
Loudon, 18, alleged via multiple posts that he “worked with Trump’s ICE” and “got Khaby detained” in what he described as a patriotic act. His posts have since been flagged by community fact-checkers for lacking verifiable evidence. ICE itself has issued no statement linking the enforcement action to Loudon’s claims.
The Daily Beast reported that the influencer has leaned into the controversy, accusing Khaby of entering the U.S. illegally and praising the outcome. Critics argue that Loudon’s actions were politically motivated, particularly given that Lame’s content is almost entirely apolitical.
Political Climate and Cultural Collision
The timing of Lame’s detention coincides with a heightened wave of immigration enforcement linked to Trump-era policies, including recent ICE raids in major cities like Los Angeles. His abrupt departure has reignited debates over celebrity treatment, racial profiling, and the role of online political figures in influencing federal enforcement.
Though Lame has not publicly addressed the incident, he continues posting regularly on social media, signaling a possible intent to stay above the fray. Meanwhile, the silence from ICE on Loudon’s alleged involvement has only deepened the public’s curiosity about how immigration priorities are being shaped in the digital age.
