The Jan. 11, 1967 New York Times reported that the U. S. Supreme Court had ruled unanimously that it is not a crime for a person with an up-to-date passport to visit countries where travel is prohibited by the State department.” The Court ruled on cases involving persons who made “unauthorized ‘ visits to Cuba. “The decision removes a psychological deterrent to unauthorized travel,” by making it impossible, under existing legislation, to impose jail terms and fines on those who violate travel restrictions. “However, the ruling does not leave the Government without means to enforce its ban on travel…A State Department spokesman said the Department automatically cancels the passports of all persons whose unauthorized trips to the communist courtries (i.e. Cuba, Albania, mainland China, North Korea, and North Viet Nam)come to its attention.’; Thus, while U. S. citizens can still lose their passports for unauthorized'” travel, U. S. troops can now be based in Brazil almost automatically.
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