Examination of the Assimilative and Anti-Immigrant Policies, Practices, and Cultures that harm International College Athletes

International college athletes (ICAs) are distinct from other international students because of the demands of elite intercollegiate athletic participation. Institutional practices inaccurately position ICAs as a homogenous group with similar needs and utilize assimilation methods when providing support. We engage with integration and assimilation as theoretical frameworks to reveal how these approaches disrupt ICA’s college experiences. In reviewing existing literature, we consider how contemporary National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) policies, higher education institution (HEI) practices, and athletic department cultures impose assimilation on ICAs while extracting their athletic talents. We found assimilation is normalized in NCAA’s amateur rules; in HEIs and their academic policies and practices; and in athletic departments. Throughout, we discuss how assimilation harms ICA’s athletic and academic achievement. We conclude with suggestions for the NCAA and its member institutions to adopt integrative policies and practices.