The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has now reportedly announced a significant policy change, revoking the Biden administration’s practice of allowing a third gender option on immigration forms.
Effective immediately, USCIS will recognize only two sexes: male and female.
This decision aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.”
Historically, USCIS required individuals to select either male or female on its documents. In April 2024, the Biden administration introduced a third option, marked as “X.”
However, the agency has reversed this policy, emphasizing that the data collected must offer a “meaningful and useful basis for identification.”
Officials stated that an individual’s sex is crucial for creating secure documents and for the screening and vetting processes.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, commenting on the policy shift, asserted, “There are only two sexes — male and female.”
She emphasized that this change reflects a commitment to biological reality and national security rather than an ideology.
The updated guidance will affect various essential documents, including green cards, employment authorization documents, and naturalization certificates.
According to the new policy, USCIS will determine a person’s sex based on the designation on their birth certificate at or near the time of their birth.
If there is a conflict between an individual’s stated sex and their birth certificate, the latter will prevail.
Additionally, the agency has replaced references to “gender” with “sex” in its policy manual and has removed previous language regarding gender identity.
This policy adjustment highlights the agency’s shift toward a more traditional viewpoint on sex and gender within the framework of U.S. immigration practices.
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