Government restrictions limit the right of movement
By Kristian Fors — Independent Institute
May 28, 2025
The American passport is one of the strongest in the world, offering visa-free access to 182 destinations. Some places, like Russia and Iran, require that Americans acquire a visa prior to entering the country. What some Americans may not realize, however, is that their own government has several restrictions about where they are allowed to travel, specifically to Cuba and North Korea.
Restrictions on travel to Cuba date back to 1962, when John F. Kennedy placed sanctions on the Cuban government and forbade U.S. citizens from traveling there. Under these restrictions, only specific categories of individuals, such as those visiting family, are allowed to go to Cuba. The only way that Americans can travel to Cuba currently is through “veiled tourism”—in which someone uses a “Support for the Cuban People” travel license to comply with American restrictions. Traveling to the country for explicit tourist purposes is completely banned.
The ban on going to North Korea is a much more recent development. The prohibition was implemented in 2017 and was related to the death of the jailed American student Otto Warmbier. If an American uses their U.S. passport to enter North Korea, their passport can be revoked, and they may face felony charges. Unfortunately, due to this ban, it is actually impossible for aspirational American travelers to visit every single country in the world without acquiring a second citizenship.
Everyone has different risk preferences and the level of risk that people are willing to expose themselves to is an individual decision. Caveat emptor is a Latin phrase that translates to “let the buyer beware.” The core principle of caveat emptor is that consumers are responsible for conducting their own due diligence before entering into a transaction. Visiting countries like North Korea or Cuba may involve certain risks, but ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide whether to assume those risks. While many Americans may be hesitant to travel to countries like North Korea, the government should not prohibit such travel outright—they should instead let the buyer beware.
The State Department categorically advises Americans not to travel to Russia due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. I lived in Russia during this time period, nevertheless. I exercised my own discretion and accepted the associated risks—risks I believed were often overstated. Had the government enacted a complete travel ban, I would have missed my graduation ceremony in Moscow and the many meaningful experiences and lasting memories I gained there after 2022. My time in Russia, despite official warnings, underscores a broader principle: individuals—not the government—should have the final say over the risks they are willing to take.
Travel bans to places like North Korea and Cuba are not just about safety—they are about freedom. Restricting the ability to travel limits personal liberty and the fundamental right to move and engage with the world on one’s own terms. True freedom includes the right to cross borders without undue interference from one’s own government. Moreover, if the countries that the State Department advises against going to are as dangerous or oppressive as claimed, Americans should have the freedom to go and investigate that for themselves.
- Kristian Fors is a Research Fellow at the Independent Institute and Director of the California Golden Fleece® Awards.
