Do you need permission to leave the US?

arbilad · Head Chef

Do you need permission to leave the US?

Jeffery_LQ1W · Senior Member

The article is misleading.

Homeland Security wants a clearence in the sense that names are checked against terrorist watch lists, this includes potential terrorists within the US that might have inflitrated through Mexico.

There are many reasons you may not be allowed to travel and have been used for quite some time. You could have a warrant for your detention or you could be out on bail or out on parole. The basic premise of a "constitutional right" unfettered in regard to leaving the US is simply wrong and reflects a somewhat agenda based stance of the author.

Cat Herder · Understander of unimportant things

Agreed. I think the article, as well as the document it linked to, are misinterpreting and misleading.

It seems that the proposed rule is to bring things into compliance with the mandate of Homeland Security requirements to match up passenger manifests on commercial international flights and liners to the list kept by Homeland Security.

I found it interesting that so much was said that the rules would breach the "Constitutional" right to travel internationally, but that stretched interpretation is equating it to freedom to assemble.

As it stands now and has for sometime, people can't just willy-nilly travel over national borders. You need certain documents to even go over to Canada and to return stateside. You need a Passport and or Visa to enter most any other country. So, how is the other country requiring that not some form of violation of our Constitution?

And, why were they citing so many "international" treaties and UN rules? Interesting that they didn't quote anything directly from the proposed rule filing.

I can see the potential for abuse, but there is potential for abuse in every policy in every government agency.