College Player Freed After 61 Days in ICE Detention

After 61 days away from the court and her teammates, Aminata Seck finally came home.

The Kentucky State University basketball player walked out of detention Wednesday evening, reunited with family and supporters outside Louisville's Metro Hall. She wore her green Kentucky State shirt and a large brace on her left leg, a reminder of the ACL injury that has waited two months for surgery.

Seck, 26, was detained by ICE at Louisville's airport on August 7. Immigration officials said the senior from Senegal had overstayed her visa after entering the U.S. in 2019.

But last week, Memphis Immigration Court Judge Kelly Lake made a crucial ruling. Seck had never received the removal notice that the Department of Homeland Security claimed to serve her in September 2025. Without proper notification, her detention couldn't stand.

Her attorney, Hishem Alsalman, secured her release on a $2,500 bond. "Aminata is finally able to reunite with her family and loved ones and begin addressing her urgent medical needs," he said.

Those needs are urgent. Seck moved between at least four different detention centers during her two months in custody. Officials at one facility placed her in solitary confinement because they considered her knee brace a potential weapon.

She also suffered seizures while detained, her attorneys reported. The Department of Homeland Security said she received treatment for knee pain at a local hospital, but she couldn't get the ACL surgery she needs.

Why This Inspires

On the court, Seck shined last season. She started 20 of 26 games, averaging nearly 12 points and 7 rebounds per game. She earned third-team All-SIAC honors and scored 30 points in one game.

But her excellence extends beyond basketball. Seck received the SIAC's Elite 16 award, the conference's highest academic honor for student-athletes who excel in both athletics and the classroom.

Her case highlights a growing reality in college sports. Since 2010, the number of international players in college basketball has increased by 175%. These athletes bring talent, diversity, and global perspectives to American campuses.

Seck's immigration hearing is scheduled for November 20. She'll finally have the chance to present her case properly, with due process and legal representation. Her petition for habeas corpus in federal court remains pending.

Standing with her family, her attorneys, and elected officials outside Metro Hall, Seck represented something bigger than one person's legal battle. She embodied the importance of fair process and second chances.

Kentucky State's senior forward can now focus on healing her knee, preparing her legal case, and potentially returning to the sport and school she loves.