OPINION Ugla Stefanía writes about President Trump’s and his administration’s systemic attacks on the trans community.
Since taking office, Trump and his administration have systematically targeted trans people. It began with an executive order defining sex as determined “at conception”, followed by bans on trans athletes, restrictions on changing legal gender markers, and even the retroactive reversion of IDs to birth-assigned sex upon renewal.
Now, the administration has issued a travel ban on trans athletes entering the U.S., sparking fear amongst trans people all over the world. While officially targeting athletes, the ban also denies visas to anyone “misrepresenting their birth sex” and imposes a “permanent fraud bar”—potentially leading to lifetime exclusion from the U.S. for trans and intersex people who have had their gender markers changed on their passport, if found out.
Trans people are being stripped of the right to travel freely. By limiting their freedom to travel, the government is restricting their ability to participate in society, express themselves, and speak openly about who they are.
This policy restricts fundamental freedoms, pushing trans and intersex individuals out of public life. It forces U.S. citizens to carry IDs that do not match who they are or how they live their lives, making travel difficult, invasive, and potentially dangerous. It forces trans people to out themselves whenever they travel—risking discrimination, harassment, or worse in countries less accepting of LGBTQ+ people.
For those traveling to the U.S., the uncertainty is a real concern. Icelandic trans woman Steingerður Lóa Gunnarsdóttir recently canceled a work trip, saying it simply wasn’t worth the risk. Given that border officials may have access to her past records from previous travel to the US, it could very well be that she would face issues when traveling there now with her updated documents.
And authorities and officials agree – the German government recently warned trans and non-binary travelers about potential difficulties entering the U.S, and Iceland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, has also expressed alarm over the growing mistreatment of queer people in the U.S.
Many trans people know the pain of carrying ID that doesn’t reflect who they are accurately. Before Iceland updated its policies, I had to live as myself for a number of years before being able to change my documents.
Every trip to a pharmacy, doctor, or even a store became an outing experience. Traveling was even worse—I was once nearly denied entry to Germany because my passport didn’t match my appearance. The anxiety and humiliation were unbearable.
Now, this is the reality for trans people in the U.S. Regardless of one’s opinion on trans rights, it’s undeniable that these restrictions create unnecessary complications, confusion, and difficulties for all.
Trans people are being stripped of the right to travel freely for work, education, or to even go on holiday—a right most take for granted. By limiting their freedom to travel, the government is restricting their ability to participate in society, express themselves, and speak openly about who they are.
Freedom of movement and expression is a fundamental human right. When a government begins controlling who can travel based on identity, it sets a dangerous precedent for broader restrictions on civil liberties. If one group can be targeted so easily and their rights stripped away, who is next?
Because make no mistake: This isn’t just an attack on trans people—it’s an attack on freedom itself.