Current Events > Trump admin bans trans athlete visas in a 'win for common sense'

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/08/new-immigration-policy-bans-visas-for-trans-athletes-not-in-the-national-interest/

New immigration policy bans visas for trans athletes: Not in the national interest
A spokesperson said the administration "is standing up for the silent majority who've long been victims of leftist policies that defy common sense."

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued policy updates effective immediately to prevent trans women athletes abroad from entering the country to compete in sports competitions.

The agency said the updates are in accordance with an executive order against trans athletes that directed the Department of Homeland Security to bar entry to trans women from other countries who want to play sports in the United States.

The policy change is especially significant since the United States is set to host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

The press release, issued on August 4, consistently misidentifies trans women as men.

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 arent coming to the U.S. to participate in womens sports, it said, explaining the new eligibility policies for extraordinary ability visas.

This policy update clarifies that USCIS considers 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 release continued, saying the agency does not consider a male athlete who has gained acclaim in mens sports and seeks to compete in womens sports in the United States to be seeking to continue work in his area of extraordinary ability.

Male athletes seeking to enter the country to compete in womens sports do not substantially benefit the United States, the agency claimed, and it is not in the national interest to the United States to waive the job offer and, thus, the labor certification requirement for male athletes whose proposed endeavor is to compete in womens sports.

A statement from USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser further emphasized the administrations hostility to trans athletes and its refusal to address them by their actual genders.

Men do not belong in womens sports, Tragesser said. 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.

Its a matter of safety, fairness, respect, and truth that only female athletes receive a visa to come to the U.S. to participate in womens sports. He then claimed the administration is standing up for the silent majority whove long been victims of leftist policies that defy common sense.

The administration has been targeting trans folks abroad as part of its overall crackdown on trans participation in sports.

In February, the State Department told U.S. immigration officials around the world to deny visas to transgender athletes attempting to enter the U.S. and to permanently ban any athletes who misrepresent their birth sex on visa applications.

The February 24 message, authored by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, directs U.S. consulates and immigration offices worldwide to ban trans visa applicants under a section of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act that issues a permanent fraud bar for people who lie on their visa applications.

In addition to targeting trans athletes abroad, the executive order directs the Department of Justice to prosecute schools that allow trans female athletes in female sports programs. It also threatens to prevent cisgender U.S. athletes from competing in international sports competitions that allow international trans athletes to compete alongside cis athletes.

Many educational institutions and athletic associations have allowed men to compete in womens sports, the order states, misgendering trans female athletes. This is demeaning, unfair, and dangerous to women and girls, and denies women and girls the equal opportunity to participate and excel in competitive sports.

Therefore, it is the policy of the United States to rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation, and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy, the order continues. It shall also be the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in womens sports more broadly, as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.

Trans athletes have argued that anti-trans politicians who talk about protecting womens sports never fight to get increased funding or discourage the sexist discrimination and sexual abuse that keep many female athletes from competing in the first place.

It shall also be the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in womens sports more broadly, as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.

But it's still okay for transmen to compete in men's sports, right?
>_>

That'll stop the epidemic of 1 or 2 people coming here on visas to play sports. Huzzah, we did it! And all it took was crashing our economy, filling our streets with fascists, losing healthcare, substituting fema aid with concentration camps! Take that, you two fucking people.

polling on this issue is insanely bleak, basically 100% of republicans and like 75% of democrats don't want transwomen competing in women's sports. it's bullshit but standing up for the issue is electoral suicide and sends independents screeching towards the (R) checkbox. we're already seeing dem politicians walking back support (there was a topic about buttigieg a couple weeks ago doing exactly that) and i'm guessing any progress on the issue is frozen for at least a few electoral cycles

Nazis gonna nazi

I don't agree with transgender women participating in women sports, but that is something that should be decided by the Sport federations, not by governments.

No international competitions should be held in the USA, and scheduled competitions should be moved elsewhere, the costs be damned.

This is insulting to women, especially the ones who do actually beat the trans women who compete. "We are protecting you because we believe you are inferior."

Also "people who misrepresent their birth sex" that opens the door to accusing any woman whose too masculine of secretly being male. Which well we know is response to that Boxer from the Olympics last year. They will never drop that.

HylianFox posted...

But it's still okay for transmen to compete in men's sports, right?
>_>

It doesn't even occur to them

We need to get rid of the phrase "common sense". It simply doesn't exist and using it effectively translates to "because I said so".

KhlavicLanguage posted...

polling on this issue is insanely bleak, basically 100% of republicans and like 75% of democrats don't want transwomen competing in women's sports. it's bullshit but standing up for the issue is electoral suicide and sends independents screeching towards the (R) checkbox. we're already seeing dem politicians walking back support (there was a topic about buttigieg a couple weeks ago doing exactly that) and i'm guessing any progress on the issue is frozen for at least a few electoral cycles

But if you look at the implications it's not even about stopping trans women, it's about stopping women who they accuse of being trans women. The whole "lying about their birth sex" is them stating just that. Any woman who doesn't fit their image of feminity will be accused of secretly being a man and be denied.

We saw from the Olympics last year that even if no trans women compete they will just accuse biological women of being "secretly trans." Soon there won't be any trans-women in sports but every woman who looks a bit to "masculine" will be accused of being one. It's already happening.

Starks posted...

It doesn't even occur to them

Because mens is basically "open competition" to them

Oh my fucking god! If anyone should be banned, its him!

Goldice posted...

Because mens is basically "open competition" to them

Trans men are mostly at a disadvantage to begin with. Any theoretical advantages are extremely situational.

If a conservative wanted to argue, they might just say "well, women aren't actually banned from MLB, NFL, etc".

Tanthalas posted...

don't agree with transgender women participating in women sports, but that is something that should be decided by the Sport federations, not by governments.

How come? Have you done any research on the issue?

Republicans aren't even giving trans folks the "dear grandson, if you be my grandson again I will help you out in life" treatment. They expect you to go cold turkey with your birth sex, presentation, and just conform to society. No incentives or safety net as intended.

MyMainAccount posted...

How come? Have you done any research on the issue?

Yes, and the evidence that transgender women dont have an innate advantage is extremely lacking.

The evidence isn't lacking; it's pretty clear and obvious that transwomen don't have an advantage in sports.

I hope other countries are really thinking about boycotting the next Olympics

Tanthalas posted...

Yes, and the evidence that transgender women dont have an innate advantage is extremely lacking.

If you decide to plug your ears and go "lalalalalalalala,' maybe.

But by all means, keep doing the facist's fucking job for them.

You're such an ally.

thronedfire2 posted...

I hope other countries are really thinking about boycotting the next Olympics

they will not

Tanthalas posted...

Yes, and the evidence that transgender women dont have an innate advantage is extremely lacking.

why are you talking about that instead of the lack of evidence that they actually do have any advantage?

Robot2600 posted...

The evidence isn't lacking; it's pretty clear and obvious that transwomen don't have an advantage in sports.

Um no. Its extremely lacking.

There are practically no studies (if there are even any) using elite athletes, the ones where any little difference will matter most.

DrizztLink posted...

If you decide to plug your ears and go "lalalalalalalala,' maybe.

But by all means, keep doing the facist's fucking job for them.

You're such an ally.

Im sorry, but being an ally doesnt mean that I cant have an opinion that goes against what they want.

thronedfire2 posted...

why are you talking about that instead of the lack of evidence that they actually do have any advantage?

Because thats not how reality works. The burden of proof is on the people claiming that transgender women dont have an advantage.

Tanthalas posted...

Im sorry, but being an ally doesnt mean that I cant have an opinion that goes against what they want.

"Opinion" being the operative word, since your response to all the studies was to

DrizztLink posted...

plug your ears and go "lalalalalalalala'

Because you want to play unpaid stoolpigeon to support the facists over 0.002% of athletes.

Because guess fucking what?

THEY DON'T ACTUALLY GIVE A SHIT ABOUT WOMEN'S SPORTS ANY MORE THAN YOU

Tanthalas posted...

Because thats not how reality works. The burden of proof is on the people claiming that transgender women dont have an advantage.

No that's literally backwards. You can't just say something is a problem and then say the burden of proof is on people to prove it's not a problem.

Tanthalas posted...

Because thats not how reality works. The burden of proof is on the people claiming that transgender women dont have an advantage.

If you knew how reality works then you'd realize you got that one backwards and that you don't prove negatives. It's on the people banning trans athletes to prove why they should be banned, the burden is on them to prove there is an advantage or any decent reason at all for banning what is an insanely small minority of athletes.

Tanthalas posted...

Because thats not how reality works. The burden of proof is on the people claiming that transgender women dont have an advantage.

Transgender women have an advantage in sports. Now go out there and prove this point for me

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/b/bf556c3c.jpg

I fucking hate living in this fascist country

creativerealms posted...

Also "people who misrepresent their birth sex" that opens the door to accusing any woman whose too masculine of secretly being male. Which well we know is response to that Boxer from the Olympics last year. They will never drop that.

Yep, they're still insisting that she's a man, on the basis of...literally Russia accusing of her being a man because she kicked a Russian boxer's ass in 2023.

Red_XIV posted...

Yep, they're still insisting that she's a man, on the basis of...literally Russia accusing of her being a man because she kicked a Russian boxer's ass in 2023.

And she was representing a country that is more likely to execute a trans person than put them on a national team.

MC_BatCommander posted...

If you knew how reality works then you'd realize you got that one backwards and that you don't prove negatives. It's on the people banning trans athletes to prove why they should be banned, the burden is on them to prove there is an advantage or any decent reason at all for banning what is an insanely small minority of athletes.

Devils advocate here, but wouldn't the burden be on trans-women to prove they don't have an advantage? Women's sports has long been established, under the assumption of biological female exclusivity. It's trans-women that are intruding in to that space demanding participation. Shouldn't the outside party be the one's to prove their legitimacy?

Classic transphobe moment, make some sorta appeal to "reality" or "common sense" while being completely wrong.

Link_of_time posted...

Devils advocate here, but wouldn't the burden be on trans-women to prove they don't have an advantage? Women's sports has long been established, under the assumption of biological female exclusivity. It's trans-women that are intruding in to that space demanding participation. Shouldn't the outside party be the one's to prove their legitimacy?

Because the burden of proof is on the claim.

According to basic study design protocols, you don't say "prove the advantage does not exist," you say "prove the existence of the advantage."

It's literally 101 level stuff.

DrizztLink posted...

And she was representing a country that is more likely to execute a trans person than put them on a national team.

Yes, being trans (or any variety of LGBT) is flat-out illegal in Algeria. They don't officially have the death penalty for it, by lynching of gay people is also common there.

Link_of_time posted...

Devils advocate here, but wouldn't the burden be on trans-women to prove they don't have an advantage? Women's sports has long been established, under the assumption of biological female exclusivity. It's trans-women that are intruding in to that space demanding participation. Shouldn't the outside party be the one's to prove their legitimacy?

That argument is predicated on the premise that trans women are an "outside party". Trans women are women.

Link_of_time posted...

Devils advocate here, but wouldn't the burden be on trans-women to prove they don't have an advantage? Women's sports has long been established, under the assumption of biological female exclusivity. It's trans-women that are intruding in to that space demanding participation. Shouldn't the outside party be the one's to prove their legitimacy?

Women's sports were established to be played by... women. Which trans women are. Sounds like a flawed attempt at an argument.

EDIT: Dang did not see the post before mine make the same argument oh well.

EDIT EDIT: Though the "trans women are intruding on women's spaces" language is really gross and makes me wonder how hypothetical this devil's advocate is.

Link_of_time posted...

Devils advocate here, but wouldn't the burden be on trans-women to prove they don't have an advantage?

No. Burden of proof is on the people making the claim.

"Trans athletes have an advantage" is the claim.

"No they don't and here's why" is the counter.

Now it's on the original party to prove otherwise, and the fact that they have never bothered to do so should tell you volumes.

You saw it earlier ITT when someone continued to double down on their bigoted opinion even when presented with facts that contradict it.

DrizztLink posted...

Because the burden of proof is on the claim.

According to basic study design protocols, you don't say "prove the advantage does not exist," you say "prove the existence of the advantage."

Wouldn't asking for inclusion in established Women's sports, be akin to stating that there is no advantage over biological female athlete's? Thus trans-women are making the claim there is no advantage due to their sex. Women's sports already makes it clear, by its existence, that there is a clear biological difference between Male and Female athletes.

MC_BatCommander posted...

No. Burden of proof is on the people making the claim.

"Trans athletes have an advantage" is the claim.

"No they don't and here's why" is the counter.

Now it's on the original party to prove otherwise, and the fact that they have never bothered to do so should tell you volumes.

Actually the default position of the "original party" is that sports are divided by sex due to biological differences between the sexes, with males having physical advantage over females. The introduction of trans-athletes makes the claim there are no differences and thus no advantages.

El_Dustino posted...

Women's sports were established to be played by... women. Which trans women are. Sounds like a flawed attempt at an argument.

EDIT: Dang did not see the post before mine make the same argument oh well.

EDIT EDIT: Though the "trans women are intruding on women's spaces" language is really gross and makes me wonder how hypothetical this devil's advocate is.

I've never hid my opinions on trans issues. My only concern is finding the facts. This has been made extremely difficult as most ppl today will allow their biases to lead them to their own desired outcomes.

If you must know, I believe trans-women do have a base advantage over female athletes. What I really want to know is if this "advantage" is within acceptable tolerance akin to female athletes who have naturally occurring advantages, such as height or high-T. If it is not, can it truly be mitigated? If not by the current standards, then by what efforts would make the trans-athletes in-question acceptable, indisputably?

Conservatives sure are known for being silent

Link_of_time posted...

Wouldn't asking for inclusion in established Women's sports, be akin to stating that there is no advantage over biological female athlete's?

They're women so they should already be included by default.

I've never hid my opinions on trans issues.

What are your opinions on "trans issues?"

If you must know, I believe trans-women do have a base advantage over female athletes.

Most research already contradicts this, so why should trans athletes be denied from playing at this time?

The people that keep bringing this up don't give a fuck about "fairness in sports", it's a smokescreen to demonize and discriminate against trans people.

Also, the number of trans college athletes in America is miniscule, like low double digits. So the fact that they keep trotting this out as a pressing, urgent issue is actually insane.

Link_of_time posted...

Actually the default position of the "original party" is that sports are divided by sex due to biological differences between the sexes, with males having physical advantage over females. The introduction of trans-athletes makes the claim there are no differences and thus no advantages.

Well your fatal flaw there is you're assuming that trans women and cis men are completely the same. Which they aren't.

So that's a false premise which you don't have to prove as correct because the burden of proof is placed on the other party. Seems disingenuous.

Link_of_time posted...

If you must know, I believe trans-women do have a base advantage over female athletes. What I really want to know is if this "advantage" is within acceptable tolerance akin to female athletes who have naturally occurring advantages, such as height or high-T. If it is not, can it truly be mitigated? If not by the current standards, then by what efforts would make the trans-athletes in-question acceptable, indisputably?

Why should policy be dictated by what people "believe" when actual evidence is available?

All 3 athletes are crushed.

That said, release the pedo-files, you fucking pedophile.

MC_BatCommander posted...

Well your fatal flaw there is you're assuming that trans women and cis men are completely the same. Which they aren't.

My argument distinctly hinges on the idea that biological female and trans-woman are by default different. Please take note, I have yet to compare males and trans-women, nor have I stated whether trans-women should be excluded from women's sports. My arguments follows the pipeline that a man transitioned to woman athlete has an inherited advantage. This trans-woman athlete disadvantages themselves via minimization of their naturally occurring testosterone. Is this enough to level the field? If not what is necessary for balance?

El_Dustino posted...

Most research already contradicts this, so why should trans athletes be denied from playing at this time?

No where in any of my statements have I made any argument for exclusion of trans athletes. The opposite really.

As for the research, it seems impossible to get clear answer as nearly every research seems to have bias for one side or the other. Objectivity seems to elude every discussion on this topic. Most studies aren't conclusive either way, and few seem to go beyond the measurement of testosterone levels. From the skimming of articles there seems be to some consensus that trans-women who transitioned after their puberty do have some inherited advantages. I'm of the stern belief that it's far too early state unequivocally either way.

Peoples zealotry for either conclusion, just makes me doubt their objectivity.

Accolon posted...

The people that keep bringing this up don't give a fuck about "fairness in sports", it's a smokescreen to demonize and discriminate against trans people.

Also, the number of trans college athletes in America is miniscule, like low double digits. So the fact that they keep trotting this out as a pressing, urgent issue is actually insane.

Yeah. I find no reason to object to trans athletes.

Why should I tell a person where they can or can't play sports?

If male to female trans athletes don't have a natural advantage, how did Lia Thomas go from mid-500s ranking (554th in the 200 freestyle; all divisions) in mens competition to one of the top-ranked swimmers in womens competition?

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/6/6b5702b1.jpg

In every other case where an athlete is suspected of having an 'unfair' advantage, the burden of proof is on the sporting authorities. Athletes are not suspended because people 'reckon' they are taking PEDs, or because people 'think' their equipment gives them too much of an edge (as with swimsuits and running shoes). Those things must be rigorously investigated and subject to proof before action is taken.

So why should it be different for trans athletes?

Note: I am NOT comparing trans athletes to those on PEDs or with enhanced gear. I'm only making a point about burden of proof, which was brought up earlier.

RagingDemon123 posted...

If male to female trans athletes don't have a natural advantage, how did Lia Thomas go from mid-500s ranking (554th in the 200 freestyle; all divisions) in mens competition to one of the top-ranked swimmers in womens competition?

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/6/6b5702b1.jpg

Doesn't prove she has an inherent advantage over women. All it suggests is that there are a greater number of top level male swimmers at her level of competition than there are female (which was not the elite level).

How many world records does she hold?

I hate this country and I fear for the world my daughter will inheritespecially when my wife and I are curious if she will come out as queer. She already has the cards stacked against her in this country as a woman. Fuck the GOP.

DrizztLink posted...

THEY DON'T ACTUALLY GIVE A SHIT ABOUT WOMEN'S SPORTS ANY MORE THAN YOU

Yeah, and you clearly dont give a shit about womens sports either.

myusernameislame posted...

No that's literally backwards. You can't just say something is a problem and then say the burden of proof is on people to prove it's not a problem.

One of the reasons womens sports exist is because men have a competitive advantage. Transgender women are genetically male. So yeah, clearly the burden of proof is on the side claiming there is no advantage.

MC_BatCommander posted...

If you knew how reality works then you'd realize you got that one backwards and that you don't prove negatives. It's on the people banning trans athletes to prove why they should be banned, the burden is on them to prove there is an advantage or any decent reason at all for banning what is an insanely small minority of athletes.

It doesnt matter if its only a small minority. For the rest, just check my response above.

Red_XIV posted...

That argument is predicated on the premise that trans women are an "outside party". Trans women are women.

But they are also genetically male, a fact that multiple people here demand that we ignore, or else were bigots.