New Visa Policy Blocks Male Athletes from Entering U.S. to Compete in Women’s Sports

by Meredith Godwin | August 11, 2025 | Government Updates

A recent update from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a change in U.S. visa policies, barring male athletes who identify as “transgender” from entering the United States to compete in women’s sporting events.

The new guidelines apply to several different visas, including O-1A, E11 and E21 cardholders of extraordinary ability, as well as national interest waivers.

A recent statement reads,

USCIS will affirmatively protect all-female athletic opportunities by granting certain athlete-related petitions and applications, that had previously been abused and offered to men, only to women, ensuring that male aliens seeking immigration benefits aren’t coming to the U.S. to participate in women’s sports.

The policy further explains USCIS will now consider “the fact that a male athlete has been competing against women as a negative factor in determining whether the alien is among the small percentage at the very top of the field.”

The update also outlines how USCIS will dismiss job offers and labor certifications for male athletes “whose proposed endeavor is to compete in women’s sports.”

These updates follow President Trump’s February executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which directed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prevent entry of “males seeking to participate in women’s sports” into the U.S. USCIS is a part of DHS.

The USCIS policy states,

On February 5, 2025, the President issued EO 14201 to address the issue of educational institutions and athletic associations allowing men to compete in women’s sports.
The EO concludes these policies are demeaning, unfair, and dangerous to women and girls, and deny women and girls the equal opportunity to participate and excel in competitive sports.
USCIS supports and follows the EO in its adjudication of all benefit requests. This update clarifies how the EO impacts eligibility for certain classifications.
Male athletes seeking to enter the United States to compete in women’s sports do not substantially benefit prospectively the United States.

USCIS Spokesperson Matthew Tragesser commented,

Men do not belong in women’s sports.
USCIS is closing the loophole for foreign male athletes whose only chance at winning elite sports is to change their gender identity and leverage their biological advantages against women.
It’s a matter of safety, fairness, respect, and truth that only female athletes receive a visa to come to the U.S. to participate in women’s sports.
The Trump Administration is standing up for the silent majority who’ve long been victims of leftist policies that defy common sense.

A recent report from Concerned Women for America (CWA) recorded that by competing in more than 10,067 female sporting events since the 1980s, male athletes have stolen over 1,900 gold medals and almost $500,000 from their rightful recipients – women and girls.

In California alone, over 521 female athletes have been defeated by men in women’s sporting events.

Dedicated female athletes should not be forced to hand over their hard-earned titles to men. Thankfully, the updated USCIS policy is one more step towards the full and rightful protection of women’s sports.

Related Articles and Resources

World Athletics Announces Testing Protocols to Keep Men Out of Women’s Athletics

Olympic Track and Field Protects Women. Why Won’t Other Sports Do the Same?

It’s Weak Men Who Try to Compete Against Strong Women

California Interscholastic Federation ‘Gender Diversity Toolkit’ Reveals Extent of Radical ‘Transgender’ Participation Policies

California Sues DOJ Over ‘Transgender’ Athlete Ban

Sixteen States Sue Trump Administration for Protecting Children from ‘Trans’ Procedures

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