Particle.news
Download on the App Store
11 ARTICLES
·
3w ago

Khaby Lame Detained by ICE in Las Vegas and Granted Voluntary Departure

Viral hoaxes about his arrest gave way to ICE’s confirmation of his brief detainment for overstaying a visa with a voluntary departure order.

Image
Image
Image
Khaby Lame holds top spot on the TikTok social media app, with 162.2 million followers , who attends the 95th Annual Academy Awards on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. Arturo Holmes/Getty Images /AFP

Overview

  • ICE held Khaby Lame on June 6 at Harry Reid International Airport after he overstayed a visa issued April 30 and allowed him to leave the United States the same day under a voluntary departure order.
  • Conservative influencer Bo Loudon fueled the story by posting a fabricated ICE record that failed to appear in the agency’s Online Detainee Locator System.
  • Fact-checking outlets including Lead Stories and Wichita Eagle found no initial record of Lame’s custody, and the TikTok star continued sharing posts on Instagram and TikTok.
  • ICE officials confirmed Lame’s Italian citizenship since 2022 and acknowledged his exit following the voluntary departure arrangement.
  • The episode highlights how quickly misinformation can spread on social media even in cases involving high-profile figures like a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador with over 160 million TikTok followers.