Several European countries and Canada have alerted their citizens about tightened restrictions for travellers entering the United States, warning they risk arrest if caught breaching new requirements under President Donald Trump.
Among the measures, travellers who have changed sex or identified themselves as non-binary with an X on their passports could face detention or expulsion under the White House’s policy of recognising only two sexes, sealed by a White House decree on 20 January.
The policy of what is officially called “restoring biological truth” will limit applicants of US passports to register with their “biological sex at birth, male ‘M’ or female “’F.’”
The measure reverses a decision taken by the Biden administration in April 2022 to make an “X gender” marker available for US passports.
According to the State Department, “All passports – including those with an X marker or those listing a sex different from your sex at birth – will remain valid for travel until their expiration date.”
But the new regulation caused disbelief and uproar among the US and global trans-community, and led to uncertainty abroad as to who would risk being detained, questioned and/or sent back upon arrival in US territory.
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