Aminata Seck, a 26-year-old basketball player at Kentucky State University, has been in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for over a month following her detention at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on August 7 due to an expired student visa. Her case has drawn attention as she has reportedly struggled to access medical care while in custody.
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Seck's attorney, Sadiqa Reynolds, stated that Seck was set to travel with her team to New York when she was detained. Since then, Reynolds has had limited contact with Seck, communicating with her only a handful of times via phone. Seck’s family, friends, and teammates have not been able to see her since her detention.
On September 21, Reynolds attempted to visit Seck at the Grayson County Detention Center but was informed that Seck had been moved for medical care to another facility. Officials at the detention center did not disclose her new location. Before her detention, Seck was wearing a brace due to an ACL injury and had not received adequate medical treatment for her condition, according to Reynolds.
Reynolds emphasized that Seck, a native of Senegal, has not committed any crimes and that her situation stems from a paperwork issue related to her visa, which has been a common occurrence as more than 175,000 visas were revoked during the Trump administration.
Seck’s name was not found in ICE's online detainee locator as of September 22, raising concerns about her legal status and any potential deportation orders. She has reportedly been transferred between several facilities across Kentucky and Chicago.
Seck had been a prominent athlete at Kentucky State, where she started 20 of the team's 26 games last season, earning third-team All-SIAC honors with an average of 11.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. She was also recognized with the SIAC's Elite 16 award for her dual excellence in academics and athletics.
Kentucky State University has expressed that they cannot disclose further information out of respect for the privacy of those involved. The NCAA and ICE have not responded to inquiries about Seck’s detention or the broader implications of such cases on student-athletes.