Aminata Seck, a 26-year-old Kentucky State center from Dakar, Senegal, was detained by ICE at Louisville's airport on Aug. 7 while traveling with her team. Her attorney says she may have missed a visa deadline while recovering from back surgery and an ACL injury. DHS says Seck entered on a student visa in 2019, later overstayed and was ordered removed after missing a hearing; she was wearing a leg brace and is receiving hospital care. Lawmakers and her attorney are monitoring the case.
Senegalese Kentucky State Center Aminata Seck Detained by ICE at Louisville Airport Ahead of Tournament
FILE - A federal agent wears an Immigration and Customs Enforcement badge in New York, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)
A Kentucky State University women's basketball player from Senegal, Aminata Seck, 26, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Louisville's Muhammad Ali International Airport on Aug. 7 as she prepared to fly with her team to a tournament in New York.
Background: Seck, a native of Dakar, told her attorney she originally entered the United States on a student visa in September 2019. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), she legally entered the country that month but later "chose to overstay her welcome in violation of our nation's laws." DHS said an immigration judge ordered her removal a year ago after she failed to appear at a hearing.
Attorney's Account and Medical Condition: Seck's lawyer, Sadiqa Reynolds, said on social media that Seck may have missed a visa deadline while recovering from back surgery. Reynolds also noted Seck has an ACL injury and was wearing a leg brace when taken into custody. Reynolds reported that Seck remained in significant pain, was moved through multiple detention facilities, and was transferred to a hospital for treatment.
DHS Statement and Detention Status: DHS confirmed Seck was wearing a leg brace at the time of arrest and is receiving medical care. Seck remains listed on the Grayson County Detention Center's online inmate roster under the offense description "US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY / ICE."
Political Reaction: Democratic U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, whose district includes Louisville, said he is monitoring Seck's case and others detained in Kentucky. In a statement he criticized the administration's actions and pledged to continue advocating on her behalf.
On the Court and In the Classroom: Seck is a standout for Kentucky State: last season she averaged 11.7 points and 7.3 rebounds, recorded five double-doubles, and posted a season-high 30 points against Lane College on Jan. 14. She was named to the SIAC All-Conference Third Team and received the SIAC Women's Basketball Elite 16 award, the conference's top academic honor for student-athletes.
Kentucky State University declined to comment, saying, "Out of respect for the privacy of those involved, Kentucky State University does not have information to share."
What Happens Next: The case involves immigration enforcement and ongoing medical care; local officials and the player's attorney say they are watching developments closely. Further updates are expected as legal and medical reviews proceed.
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