LOUISVILLE — Sadiqa Reynolds, the attorney representing Seck, stated that her client entered the United States on a student visa. Reynolds said Seck may have missed a student visa deadline due to back surgery. Reynolds stated that Seck has an ACL injury and has not had consistent access to medical attention while in custody. She added that Seck was transferred to a medical facility after officials at the Grayson County Detention Center told her Seck had been moved.

The Department of Homeland Security stated that Seck legally entered the U.S. in September 2019. The department also stated that Seck overstayed her visa in violation of U.S. laws. An immigration judge issued a final order of removal for Seck on Sept. 8, 2025, after she failed to show up for her immigration hearing, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The department stated that an immigration judge ordered Seck removed a year ago after she failed to appear at an immigration hearing. The Department of Homeland Security stated that Seck was referred to the local hospital, where she is receiving treatment for knee pain, on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026.

Seck is currently listed on the Grayson County Detention Center’s online inmate roster. The offense description on the roster lists 'US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY / ICE.'

Kentucky State head coach Amani Williams has been advocating for Seck. Kentucky State University declined to comment on Seck's detention. Democratic U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey stated he is monitoring Seck’s situation.

"Aminata is a student-athlete who was arrested by ICE at the airport while traveling with her teammates," McGarvey said. "The Trump administration’s cruelty knows no bounds, but we will never let this become normal and we won’t stop fighting for her," McGarvey said.

Why It Matters

Seck is from Dakar, Senegal, and transferred to Kentucky State University from Langston University. She was named to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference Third Team last season and was named the SIAC Women’s Basketball Elite 16 award winner. Seck averaged 11.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season, according to one set of statistics, while another source lists her average at 11.9 points per game.

She started in 17 of the team's 20 games last season and averaged 7.7 rebounds per game. Seck scored a season-high 30 points against Lane College on January 14.

Timeline

The Department of Homeland Security stated that an immigration judge issued a final order of removal for Aminata Seck on Sept. 8, 2025, after she failed to show up for her immigration hearing. Aminata Seck scored a season-high 30 points against Lane College on January 14.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Aminata Seck at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on August 7, 2026. Seck was detained while preparing to travel with her team to an HBCU tournament in New York.

What's New

Aminata Seck was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Aug. 7 at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, according to her lawyer Sadiqa Reynolds. Seck was detained on Aug. 7 at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport while on her way to New York for a tournament, according to her attorney Sadiqa Reynolds.

Seck was detained by ICE at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Aug. 7, as she was planning to travel with her team to an HBCU tournament. Seck was detained by ICE on Aug. 7 at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, according to a report from the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Sadiqa Reynolds, the attorney for Aminata Seck, stated that Seck may have missed a student visa deadline because she was having back surgery. She said that Seck may have missed a student visa deadline due to a back surgery. Kentucky State head coach Amani Williams has been advocating for Aminata Seck.

How Sources Differ

Kentucky State University athletics roster identifies Aminata Seck as a 26-year-old women's basketball player for Kentucky State University, while the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference awards list notes that Seck was named the SIAC Women’s Basketball Elite 16 award winner.

Kentucky State University athletics statistics state that Seck averaged 11.9 points per game last season, whereas the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference awards list states that Seck was named to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference Third Team last season.

Kentucky State University athletics statistics state that Seck started in 17 of the team's 20 games last season, while the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference awards list states that Seck was named to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference Third Team last season.

Kentucky State University athletics statistics state that Seck averaged 7.7 rebounds per game last season, while the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference awards list states that Seck was named to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference Third Team last season.