Kentucky State's Aminata Seck held by ICE at four facilities

Aminata Seck, a senior on the Kentucky State Women's basketball team, has been in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody since 7 August and has been held at four facilities, according to her lawyer. The Guardian reported the case after it became public this week.

Seck, who is from Senegal, was detained at Louisville's Muhammad Ali International Airport. She was travelling to New York for the HBCU All-Star game. Last season she started 20 of 26 games for the Division II side, and she was named to the third team all-conference and won the SIAC Elite 16 award for academic achievement.

The lawyer, Sadiqa Reynolds, said Seck has been moved from Clay County to Chicago, then to Clark County and Grayson County. She put the reason for the detention down to a missed student visa deadline after back surgery, which she called "a paperwork situation".

Reynolds also said Seck is playing through an ACL injury in detention and has received only ibuprofen, with no proper medical care. ICE arrests in Kentucky have risen by 70% this year.

The Department of Homeland Security gave a different account to USA Today on 23 September. "She chose to overstay her welcome in violation of our nation's laws," the department said, adding: "To be clear: a pending application or work authorization does not confer legal status in the United States."

DHS said an immigration judge issued a final order of removal on 8 September 2025, after Seck allegedly failed to show up for her immigration hearing. "She will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings," the department said. Margaret Fleming of Front Office Sports reported that a DHS spokesperson told her medical staff noted Seck was wearing a leg brace when she was processed.

The two accounts differ on the removal order. If Seck stays in custody, this may mean she does not play a senior season at Kentucky State.