Are trans people being denied entry to the us

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"It's restricting their ability to live the life that they want to live and that has real symbolic value by trying to push transgender, nonbinary and intersex people out of public life, and saying that they don't exist in a very concrete, symbolic way. He applied for an expedited renewal and sent along important medical documents like his birth certificate on Jan.

16.

A few days later, President Donald Trump took office and signed a sweeping executive order acknowledging only two sexes – male and female – designated at birth. But they've always existed through our entire human history, and they'll always be here."

The first hearing is set for March 25 at the U.S.

District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and until then, there's not much travelers can do regarding "the muddled policy," Fruitwala said. "I'm having to learn how to find trans joy and hope in the smallest moments of my everyday life while also having to hold the grief of navigating this lawsuit," he said.

"This is such a hard and scary time, and knowing that I'm in solidarity and that I'm in community with others is really helpful."

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Many LGBTQ+ travelers already face safety and discrimination concerns, said Matthieu Jost, who founded misterb&b, a travel platform that has vetted more than 2 million accommodations worldwide that welcome LGBTQ+ travelers.

That's kind of how I've been viewing this as we've been approaching this entire situation."

The complaint accuses the agency of failing to notify the public about the change within the required 60 days, violating the constitutional rights of transgender, nonbinary and intersex people, and discriminating against them based on sex.

After being left in a holding pattern for weeks, transgender applicants have learned their application is approved only if they accept one with their sex at birth, rendering it useless if their driver's license and birth certificate state otherwise.

"This is about people's ability to move freely throughout the world.

Passport Renewals and Applications

  • Rejected Applications: Transgender and nonbinary individuals seeking to renew their passports have reported a sharp increase in rejections. It's hard enough to add this extra hurdle," the content creator told USA TODAY.

    "We also want to feel safe when we're out, when we're using the restroom; we also want to feel safe when we're traveling," Cao said.

    We remain committed to supporting LGBTQIA+ travelers in navigating these complexities and advocating for inclusive travel policies.

    For personalized assistance and the latest updates, please contact our travel advisory team.

US travel warnings: Full list of countries advising 'caution' for trans citizens visiting America amid fears over 'detention'

Full list of countries advising 'caution' while visiting US

  • Austria
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Germany
  • Ireland
  • Norway
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Netherlands

Certain countries like the UK and Canada have not issued specific advice for transgender citizens visiting America.

However, there is general guidance suggesting trans people could face issues with travel documents in countries where they are not recognised.

The UK's foreign office warns Brits to fully comply with all entry and visa requirements.

Meanwhile, France's foreign ministry tells citizens to declare their gender assigned at birth when applying for a US visa or through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA).

Denmark is among the countries to have explicitly stated that trans people may not be allowed entry into the US.

In Finland, advice states: "If the applicant's current sex on their passport is different from their sex confirmed at birth, the US authorities may refuse entry.

"The policy of the United States is that an individual's sex is not changeable."

Germany has also said trans citizens may face issues visiting the US.

Guidance states that those travelling must state either 'male' or 'female' on ESTA or visa applications.

Director of the organisation TransActual, jane fae, told Metro: "Confiscation of your passport and indefinite detention in an ICE facility is a real possibility."

‘Passports taken by the government’: How new State Department rule blocks trans travelers

  • President Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring all U.S.

    government identity documents to reflect a person's sex assigned at birth.

  • The ACLU filed a lawsuit against the State Department on behalf of seven plaintiffs, who were impacted by the passport ban.
  • The passport ban has caused fear and anxiety among transgender travelers, who already face safety and discrimination concerns, and has restricted their ability to travel freely.

In early January, while flying from West Virginia to New York City, Ashton Orr was flagged by airport security and accused of using a fake ID.

Orr's driver's license had been updated with a male sex designation, but his passport still listed female.

Orr was pulled aside for further questioning, and it wasn't until he outed himself as a transgender man that security let him through.

Shaken from the incident, Orr decided it was time to update his passport.

"Trans people are just trying to survive. The State Department did not provide comment on the lawsuit to USA TODAY.

"There's no other way around the current passport processing system," she said. "A big part in safety comes with proving who we are if a police officer asks us for our ID, if a random security guard asks for our ID."

Meanwhile, Orr is dealing with his travel insurance and the airline because he won't be able to leave the U.S.

come March. Complications with Domestic and International Travel

  • TSA Screening Issues: U.S. citizens whose appearance does not match the gender marker on their identification have faced invasive screening procedures and delays at airport security checkpoints.

  • International Travel Restrictions: Travelers have encountered issues when returning to the U.S.

    if their passport gender marker differs from that of their other identification documents or foreign visas.

While legal challenges to these policies are ongoing, many U.S. citizens lack immediate avenues for redress. Jost, a gay man, created the platform after he and his partner faced discrimination from a vacation rental host in Barcelona in 2014.

"You have to do a lot of research, more than the general population," he said of the LGBTQ+ travel experience.

She was subjected to inhumane conditions and denied legal counsel during her detention.

  • German tattoo artist Jessica Brösche was detained and subsequently deported when attempting to enter the U.S. from Mexico, highlighting the risks faced by travelers with gender marker discrepancies.

  • Three German nationals were denied entry and detained in March 2025, despite possessing valid travel documents, due to inconsistencies in gender markers. 

    •  

    International Response and Travel Advisories

    Several countries have issued advisories for LGBTQIA+ individuals traveling to the U.S.:

    • Denmark: Advises citizens with an "X" gender marker or those who have changed gender to consult the U.S.

      embassy before traveling. On behalf of seven plaintiffs, including Orr, the ACLU, the ACLU of Massachusetts and the law firm Covington & Burling LLP filed a lawsuit Feb. 7 against the State Department to pause the policy.

      "The Trump administration is not going to stop here with passports, with identification measures," said Orr.

      "This is truly about control at the end of the day, and if we aren't going to stand up and push back against this, then who's going to?

      Update: Navigating Recent U.S. Gender Policy Changes in Travel for LGBTQIA+ Individuals

      Update: Navigating Recent U.S. Gender Policy Changes in Travel for LGBTQIA+ Individuals

       

      Since the publication of our original guide in February 2025, significant developments have occurred concerning U.S.

      federal policies on gender markers in travel documentation. Executive Order 14168 Implementation

      Previously, on January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14168, mandating that all federal identification documents, including passports and visas, reflect an individual's sex assigned at birth, recognizing only "male" and "female" as valid gender markers.

      This has left transgender and nonbinary travelers without official information on navigating international travel under the new policies. 

      Real-World Impacts on Travelers

      International Travelers Facing Entry Denials

      • Canadian trans musician Bells Larsen was compelled to cancel his U.S.

        tour after his visa application was denied due to a mismatch between his passport's gender marker and his sex assigned at birth. 

       

      • Canadian entrepreneur Jasmine Mooney was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for nearly two weeks despite holding a valid NAFTA work visa.

        are trans people being denied entry to the us

        He was required to undergo invasive physical screening procedures, resulting in a missed flight and significant emotional distress.

        These cases highlight the real-world implications of the recent policies, particularly for U.S. citizens navigating increasingly complex and discriminatory documentation requirements. These changes have profoundly impacted both U.S.

        citizens and international LGBTQIA+ travelers.

        Key Policy Changes Affecting LGBTQIA+ Travelers

        1. Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!

        "It's very isolating and concerning," Orr told USA TODAY.

      • Finland: Warns that U.S. authorities may refuse entry if the passport's gender marker does not match the sex assigned at birth.

        Consequently, the State Department ceased issuing passports with the nonbinary "X" marker and halted processing gender marker changes on existing documents.

        2.