Aminata Seck, the center for Kentucky State University women’s basketball team, has been freed from ICE custody following a two-month detention. The release came after a judge determined that Seck did not pose a threat to the community nor was she a flight risk, allowing her to be released on a $2,500 bond this past Wednesday.
Seck’s detention began on August 7 when ICE agents stopped her at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport as she was traveling to participate in an HBCU All-Star Game. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Seck initially entered the United States legally in 2019 on a temporary visa but overstayed her authorized period.
Legal Proceedings and Detention Conditions
Following her detention, a removal order was issued against Seck in September 2025 after she missed a mandatory immigration hearing. However, a Memphis judge later ruled that ICE had failed to properly notify Seck of the hearing, resulting in her case being reopened. This development played a significant role in her eventual release.
During her confinement, Seck endured an especially difficult final week in isolation at the Grayson County Detention Center. In addition to the mental and emotional strain, she was forced to postpone surgery necessary to repair a torn ACL and meniscus — injuries sustained while competing in basketball.
Expressing her determination to move forward, Seck shared her immediate goals: “I’m just ready to go back to school, get my master’s, and get this surgery done.”