Kentucky State basketball player detained by ICE at airport, denied adequate medical care
Aug 7, 2026·Location: Louisville, KY
Country of origin: Senegal

Aminata (Amina) Seck, a 26-year-old graduate student and basketball center for Kentucky State University from Dakar, Senegal, was detained by ICE on Aug. 7 at Louisville's Muhammad Ali International Airport while preparing to fly with her team to an HBCU tournament in New York. Seck entered the U.S. on a student visa in 2019 and was ordered removed after missing an immigration hearing; her attorney, Sadiqa Reynolds, said Seck never received notice of the hearing and missed the deadline while recovering from back surgery and an ACL injury. Wearing a leg brace at the time of her arrest, she has since been moved between at least four detention facilities in Kentucky and Chicago as well as a hospital over 48 days, reportedly experiencing seizures and limited access to phone calls, visitors, or basic medical care. Seck started most games last season, averaging more than 11 points and 7 rebounds, and earned All-Conference and SIAC Elite 16 academic-athletic honors. Her head coach, Amani Williams, has advocated on her behalf, and U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey said he is monitoring her situation.
Sources
- ICE detained Kentucky State basketball player from Senegal as she prepared to travel to tournament
NBC News·Sep 23, 2026
- Aminata Seck will stay in ICE custody pending potential deportation, DHS says
- Defense Attorney Issues Statement After NCAA Player With ACL Injury Is Detained by ICE
essentiallysports.com·Sep 21, 2026·archived copy
- College Basketball Player Detained by ICE While Traveling With Team as Concerns Grow Over Medical Care
tmspn.com·Sep 20, 2026·archived copy
- Women’s college basketball star detained by ICE and ‘needs medical attention’
papalinc.com·Sep 20, 2026
- Kentucky college hoops star locked away and denied visitors after airport ICE arrest
independent.co.uk·Sep 24, 2026
- College Basketball Player Has Been in ICE Custody for Weeks
frontofficesports.com·Sep 24, 2026
- Kentucky State basketball player Aminata Seck in ICE custody pending removal: DHS
- KSU women's basketball player detained by ICE is hospitalized
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