An agency under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of the Biden administration announced on Monday a third gender option, “X,” defined as “Another Gender Identity” for immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said in a post on its website that the option will appear on the revised N-400 application for naturalization.
The agency also noted that it is updating its policy manual “accordingly to account for this form revision and other forthcoming revisions that will add a third gender option.”
Applicants who have a pending form were advised they may request to update their gender.
“For all other forms, individuals must wait until USCIS revises those forms to include the X gender option,” the post added.
Because the announcement was made on April Fools’ Day, which falls on April 1 every year, journalists and others posted about how this was not some prank.
“The US agency tasked with handling asylum claims, visas, and citizenship announces it will now offer ‘X’ as a third gender identity. No, it’s not an April Fools joke,” said Fox News reporter Bill Melugin.
The US agency tasked with handling asylum claims, visas, and citizenship announces it will now offer “X” as a third gender identity.
No, it’s not an April Fools joke. https://t.co/vv3rJpiYAz— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) April 1, 2024
Others mocked and criticized the Biden administration for making the change while there are pressing border security issues.
“Crossing the border is inclusive,” quipped NewsNation reporter Ali Bradley.
“The Biden Administration has just launched a new [campaign] to convert transgender migrants into U.S. citizens,” said Stephen Miller, who served as an adviser to former President Donald Trump.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) brought up Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was allegedly murdered by a Venezuelan illegal immigrant.
“Biden’s Department of Homeland Security is too busy implementing woke DEI gender policies to protect Americans and secure the border,” Biggs said on X.
“I’m sure Laken Riley’s family is relieved to know that immigrants can now register as ‘Gender X,'” he added. “Close the border.”
The Biden administration has taken other steps toward integrating gender ideology over the years.
In 2022, the State Department rolled out passports in which U.S. citizens could select “X” as their gender instead of male or female.
DHS announced reforms that it said were meant to “better serve” transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming Americans, such as accepting “X” as a gender marker for TSA PreCheck applications.
This year, the Biden administration faced backlash when it celebrated “Transgender Day of Visibility” because its usual date of March 31 fell on Easter Sunday.