Gage Skidmore CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED, via Flickr ; Screenshot / YouTube, 9NEWS, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the Biden administration, announced the addition of a third gender option, “X,” for immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship.

This development was revealed through a statement on the USCIS website, heralding a departure from the traditional binary gender choices of “Male (M)” and “Female (F)” on USCIS forms and related documents.

“We have revised Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, to provide a third gender option, 'X,' defined as 'Another Gender Identity,'” stated USCIS, underlining its commitment to fostering inclusivity within the naturalization process.

USCIS also emphasized that updates to the USCIS Policy Manual would reflect this form revision and forthcoming changes to incorporate a third gender option.

The decision to introduce the “X” gender option accompanies a policy change aimed at addressing significant barriers faced by individuals who do not identify strictly as male or female. A policy alert from USCIS underscored the challenges posed by the lack of an additional gender option, highlighting administrative hurdles encountered by requestors who submit documents with a gender other than “M” or “F.”

The announcement sparked criticism from those who questioned the timing of the change amidst pressing border security issues. Notably, Stephen Miller, a former advisor to President Donald Trump, characterized the move as part of the Biden administration's broader agenda regarding immigration policies.

“The Biden Administration has just launched a new [campaign] to convert transgender migrants into U.S. citizens,” he said.

NewsNation reporter Ali Bradley quipped “Crossing the border is inclusive.”

The USCIS unveiled this development on April 1, so naturally some users humorously questioned whether it was an “April Fool's” post. However, the inclusion of the third gender option still stirred controversy on social media platforms, particularly on X, where an image of the application featuring the “X” gender option was shared quickly by conservative accounts.

President Joe Biden and administration officials faced intensified scrutiny following posts on social media celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility. Critics, including Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), seized upon these developments to criticize the administration's focus on what they deemed as pro-LGBTQ+ policies instead of prioritizing border security concerns.

Some mainstream media outlets have praised the introduction of the “X” gender option, claiming it aligns with broader efforts to integrate gender inclusivity into official documents and processes.

Initiatives such as allowing U.S. citizens to select “X” as their gender on passports and accepting “X” as a gender marker for TSA PreCheck applications have sought to better accommodate transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming individuals.

These outlets say the revised edition of Form N-400  marks a significant milestone in advancing gender inclusivity within the naturalization process. Applicants filing for U.S. citizenship on or after April 1 will have the immediate option to select “X” as their gender identity. Additionally, USCIS outlined procedures for individuals with pending applications filed before April 1, 2024, to request updates to their gender identity.

USCIS has also committed to updating additional forms to include this option in the future, providing clear instructions for applicants to select the “X” gender option for their specific benefit requests.