USCIS Ends Visa Grants for Biological Men in Women’s Sports

The U.S. Citizens’ Immigration Service (USCIS), part of the Department of Homeland Security, has announced that it will stop issuing visas to biological men who wish to compete in women’s sports.

In a press release, USCIS explained that this policy aims to “positively protect all women’s athletic opportunities” by addressing certain athlete-related petitions previously misused by men aiming to compete in women’s athletics. They stated that this change will prevent biological foreign men from entering the U.S. under the guise of participating in women’s sports.

USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser stated, “Men do not belong in women’s sports,” emphasizing that the agency is working to close loopholes for foreign male athletes who might see transitioning as the only path to elite sports.

Tragesser added, “It’s a matter of safety, fairness, respect, and truth for only female athletes to receive visas for competing in women’s sports. The Trump administration is advocating for a quiet majority who have been affected by policies that lack common sense.”

These policy updates apply to sections 2 and 6 of the USCIS Policy Manual and are effective immediately, as noted in the press release.

Furthermore, USCIS clarified eligibility guidelines for specific visa categories for exceptional abilities, ensuring a fair environment for female athletes in the U.S.

This policy shift follows President Donald Trump’s executive order from February, which aimed to “keep men out of women’s sports.” This order directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio and DHS Secretary Christi Noem to review policies that allow men to participate in women’s sports and provide guidance to limit such entries as much as the law permits.