US Introduces Visa Restrictions for Transgender Women Athletes

Transgender women are prohibited from entering the United States to participate in women's sports due to new immigration regulations imposed by the government. The policy, updated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), states that transgender women competing in women’s sports will be considered ineligible for certain types of visas. These include O-1A visas (for individuals with extraordinary abilities), EB-1 and EB-2 green cards, and national interest waivers.

USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said the change is intended to prevent “foreign male athletes” from gaining an unfair advantage by competing against women. "It is a matter of safety, fairness, respect, and truth that only female athletes are given visas to enter the United States to play women's sports," he stated.

This ban is in line with the administration of President Donald Trump's larger initiative to control transgender athletes.  Trump issued an executive order earlier this year titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports." This order prohibits transgender women from taking part in women's sports. The directive also directed the Department of Homeland Security to deny visa applicants in order to stop any male athletes from "attempting to fraudulently enter the United States while identifying themselves as women athletes," especially in the lead-up to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Additionally, the State Department issued a directive to visa officers worldwide, instructing them to apply a permanent visa ban to transgender applicants suspected of misrepresenting their birth sex. This could lead to a lifetime exclusion from entering the United States, with very limited options for appeal or waiver.

Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have condemned the move. Sarah Mehta, senior policy counsel at ACLU, said targeting transgender individuals in this way is alarming and a misuse of immigration laws.

The policy is expected to affect transgender athletes trying to compete in events like the Olympics, Women’s World Cup, WNBA, and NWSL games held in the U.S.