Kentucky State University women’s basketball player Aminata Seck has spent more than six weeks in federal immigration custody after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while traveling with her team at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Aug. 7.
Seck, 26, is a 6-foot-4 senior from Dakar, Senegal, who joined Kentucky State’s basketball program in 2024 after transferring from Langston University. She played a significant role for the Thorobrettes during the 2025-26 season and earned Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference Third Team and Elite 16 honors.
According to attorney Sadiqa Reynolds, who is helping coordinate Seck’s case, the team was traveling to New York for a tournament when Seck was taken into custody after going through airport security. Reynolds has said Seck may have missed a student visa deadline while recovering from back surgery. The specific circumstances surrounding her detention have not been publicly confirmed by federal immigration authorities.
Seck’s detention has also raised concerns about her medical care. Reynolds said Seck is dealing with an ACL injury that requires surgery and has experienced significant pain while in custody. She has reportedly been transferred between multiple detention facilities in Kentucky and Illinois since her arrest, creating concerns about consistent access to treatment.
As of Sept. 21, Seck was reported to be held at the Grayson County Detention Center. Her continued detention has separated her from her teammates and the Kentucky State basketball program as questions remain about her immigration case and access to medical treatment.
Kentucky State University has declined to provide specific information about Seck’s situation, citing the privacy of those involved. Meanwhile, Reynolds has publicly praised head coach Amani Williams for advocating for Seck throughout the situation.
Before her detention, Seck was one of Kentucky State’s key players. During the 2025-26 season, she contributed as a major presence in the paint and on the boards while also maintaining the academic performance recognized by the SIAC.
For now, Seck remains in federal custody while her legal representatives continue working on her case and seeking appropriate medical attention for her injury.
