When the author was 14, their family left the Soviet Union, becoming stateless as the U.S.S.R. stripped them of citizenship in exchange for exit visas. Upon arriving in the United States, the author carried a refugee travel document instead of a passport, which made simple transactions like opening a bank account more complex. However, being young, white, female, and considered “legal,” the difficulties faced were not excessive, but enough to create a feeling of precariousness. Over the years, life for noncitizens in the U.S. has become much more difficult, with successive administrations pushing immigrants to the margins of society, limiting pathways to legal status, and increasing deportations. The immigration court system lacks political independence, and noncitizens facing deportation have no guaranteed counsel, with many spending years in detention facilities.
The author notes that the U.S., once known as a “nation of immigrants,” no longer fully accepts immigrants as part of the nation. Recent actions by politicians seeking to exclude most immigrants from right-to-shelter laws in states like Massachusetts and New York City show the changing attitudes towards immigrants. As the Trump administration doubles down on attacks against trans people, the author sees these actions as part of a denationalization project. President Trump’s executive orders on gender, such as asserting only two sexes exist and banning transgender individuals from various aspects of society, contribute to this exclusionary narrative. The State Department has stopped issuing passports with an “X” gender marker, and the military has barred transgender individuals from service, citing conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable lifestyle.
The author highlights the seemingly haphazard nature of the Trump administration’s attacks on trans people, but asserts that they fit into a broader denationalization project. These actions, including banning trans athletes from women’s sports, restricting gender-affirming medical care, and denying passports with accurate gender markers, contribute to an erasure of transgender individuals from society. In a speech to Congress, Trump singled out a young woman who suffered a brain injury during a volleyball game, attributing the injury to a trans player. These actions further marginalize and dehumanize trans individuals, casting them as nonexistent or unworthy of recognition and inclusion.
The author warns that a country that pushes one group out of its political community will eventually push out others, as exclusionary policies can spread to different marginalized groups. The Trump administration’s focus on attacking trans people is part of a larger pattern of denying rights and recognition to certain populations. By erasing the existence of trans individuals and implementing discriminatory policies, the government perpetuates a narrative of exclusion and pushes marginalized groups further to the margins of society. The author calls attention to the dangerous implications of denying rights to specific groups, as it sets a precedent for further exclusion and discrimination against those deemed unworthy or undesirable by those in power.
In conclusion, the author reflects on their own experience as a stateless individual and the challenges they faced upon arriving in the U.S. as an immigrant. They draw parallels between the exclusionary policies targeting immigrants and the recent attacks on trans individuals, highlighting the broader trend of marginalizing and denying rights to specific groups. By shedding light on these issues, the author raises awareness about the dangers of exclusionary policies and the need to uphold the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their citizenship status or gender identity.
