U.S. Citizenship Supremacy

Abstract

On July 1, 2021, most NCAA student-athletes could finally monetize their names, images, and likenesses (NIL). Although the change was both welcome and historic, international college athletes (ICAs) could not. This commentary situates NIL within the broader context of U.S. nationalism, anti-immigrant sentiment, and college sports. We find that U.S. immigration laws combined with NCAA amateur policies prevent ICAs from monetizing their NIL. We conclude with reform suggestions at the legal, policy, and practice levels that will benefit all international students and immigrant workers.