A women's basketball player from Kentucky State University, Aminata Seck, has been released on bond from ICE custody after spending two months detained. Seck, a native of Senegal, was arrested on August 7 at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which stated that she overstayed her temporary visa granted in 2019. Following a missed immigration hearing in September 2025, a judge ordered her removal, labeling her an "illegal alien."
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Her bond was set at $2,500, and she has since returned home. However, Seck is dealing with a torn ACL and meniscus, requiring surgery that was postponed during her detention. According to her attorney, Sadiqa Reynolds, she did not receive regular medical treatment while in custody.
DHS maintains that its facilities offer comprehensive medical care, but Seck reported being isolated for a week for refusing to remove a knee brace necessary for her injury. "By myself in that room, with nobody — just me and myself, looking at the wall, no books or anything," she said during a news conference.
U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., highlighted the nature of her detention, noting that Seck has no criminal record. He criticized ICE for detaining her despite her background. In response to immigration issues, DHS has encouraged individuals in similar situations to self-deport through the CBP Home App, offering financial incentives for those who choose to leave voluntarily.
Seck, who played in 20 games last season with an average of 11.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, expressed her eagerness to return to school, obtain her master's degree, and undergo her surgery. Her immigration case is ongoing, with a court appearance scheduled for next month.