Under the policy update, USCIS will consider “the fact that a male athlete has been competing against women” as a negative factor when evaluating visa petitions in categories such as O-1A for extraordinary ability, EB-1 and EB-2 green cards for highly skilled workers, and national interest waivers.

USCIS spokesperson Mathew Tragesser stated that USCIS is in efforts to close loopholes for foreign male athletes, who only seek chance at winning elite sports by changing their gender identity and take leverage over their biological advantages against women.

He further stated that precautions are being taken in the light of safety, fairness, respect and truth that only female athletes receive a visa to come to US to participate in women’s sport.

The move aligns with broader efforts by the administration of US President Donald Trump to regulate transgender participation in athletics and follows similar policies enacted at the state level across the country.

Earlier, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee last month updated its policy to align with an executive order signed earlier this year by Trump barring transgender women from competing in women’s sports.

Trump signed the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” order in February, a directive that supporters said will restore fairness but critics argue infringes on the rights of a tiny minority of athletes.