USCIS Update on Women’s Sports Participation
A recent press release outlined changes in the US Citizens’ Immigration Service (USCIS) policy that will bar foreign male athletes from competing in women’s sports.
These updates align with President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at keeping men out of women’s sports. The revisions will eliminate previous permissions granted to biological males in female sports and ensure these privileges aren’t available in the future.
“Men don’t belong in women’s sports,” stated Matthew Tragesser, a spokesperson for USCIS, in the press release. “We’re closing the loophole that allowed foreign male athletes to gain an advantage by changing their gender identity and taking advantage of the biological benefits meant for women.”
The new guidelines clarify that when assessing eligibility for athletes, competing in women’s sports will now be viewed negatively. This applies to the elite athlete visa.
“USCIS has received commendation for its stance on men’s sports. They’re not recognizing male athletes seeking to enter women’s sports in the U.S. as continuing their extraordinary work,” the release indicated.
The regulations specify that men who transitioned from competing in men’s sports to women’s sports are not engaging in an area of extraordinary ability. This affects various visa categories, including O-1A and E21 for individuals with extraordinary abilities, according to USCIS.
“All athletes aiming to compete in women’s sports do not provide effective benefits to the U.S.,” the release stated. There’s a labor certification requirement for male athletes who decide to pursue job openings deemed not in the national interest, thus opting for women’s sports instead.
The policy changes will be implemented immediately, applying to any pending or new applications filed after Monday.
“It’s about safety, fairness, respect, and truth that only female athletes should be granted visas for competing in women’s sports,” Tragesser said. “The Trump administration is representing a quiet majority who have felt the impacts of unfair policies from the left.”
