Six European nations have issued travel advisory warnings to transgender citizens flying to the U.S. over recent U.S. policy changes directing federal employees to no longer recognize trans identities. These nations are Germany, Finland, the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, and France. Most have advised trans and nonbinary travelers to check with U.S. embassies before travelling to the United States.
Since the current president’s inauguration, the U.S. has grown more hostile to foreigners and LGBTQ+ people. The president’s first action in office was to sign a transphobic executive order demanding that the State Department cease issuing passports with an “X” nonbinary gender marker or gender markers that don’t reflect a person’s sex assigned at birth.
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82 Democrats sign letter saying Donald Trump’s anti-trans passport policy will harm the U.S.
The new policy will place Americans in “dangerous and high-stress situations,” the letter’s signatories say.
State Secretary Marco Rubio then ordered the State Department personnel to suspend any applications requesting an X gender marker.
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In addition to targeting gender-expansive individuals, the current administration has also targeted immigrants. Even immigrants who are in the U.S. legally or those just visiting have been persecuted and detained by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
As such, Germany was one of the first countries to issue travel warnings.
“Travelers who have the gender entry ‘X’ or whose current gender entry differs from their gender entry at birth should contact the relevant U.S. diplomatic mission in Germany before entering the country and find out the applicable entry requirements,” the Foreign Office communicated, according to The Rheinsische Post.
The decision to update the travel advisory came after ICE held several German citizens visiting the United States. One of the citizens, Jessica Brösche, was held in the U.S. for 46 days since January 25. It was never stated why they were being held, and Brösche was denied a translator, adding to the confusion.
ICE has also detained tourists from the U.K. and Canada. Canada has urged its citizens to exercise caution about visiting amidst growing tensions of xenophobia and anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination within the current presidential administration.
Denmark has also warned its citizens. The Danish Foreign Ministry issued the following statement: “When applying for an ESTA or visa to the United States, there are two gender designations to choose from: male or female — If you have the gender designation X in your passport, or you have changed your gender, it is recommended that you contact the U.S. Embassy prior to travel for guidance on how to proceed.”
Danish LGBTQ+ advocate Susanne Branner Jespersen told Danish Broadcaster Radio IIII, “We are worried that people could be stopped at the airport and refused entry, or that something inappropriate and uncomfortable could happen at the airport.”
Finland also updated its travel advisory page to state “If the applicant’s current sex on their passport is different from their sex confirmed at birth, the US authorities may refuse entry.”
The Netherlands also warned its citizens, with the Dutch Foreign Ministry of Affairs putting out a statement for those leaving the Netherlands to visit the United States. “Please note that laws and customs in the US towards LGBTIQ+ people may differ from those in the Netherlands,” the travel advisory reads.
“You must indicate your gender at birth when applying for an ESTA or visa” the ministry added, advising those who have questions to contact the U.S. Consulate General in Amsterdam.
The French Foreign Ministry advised potential visitors to consult the U.S. Embassy of Paris for updates before planning trips.
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