Freedom of Movement in Latin America

Today, nationals of many member States of the Organization of American States no longer require a valid national passport to visit other member States. The present standards of freedom of movement emerged as a result of waiver of the passport requirement and the simplification of immigration procedures-the direct outcome of regional international assemblies held in this century, and unilateral measures as indirect consequences of the same meetings. It is now generally recognized by leaders of governments as well as the civil servants located in the higher echelons of their Government\u27s administration that persons bent on engaging in subversive activities within their own State or other States are not going to be thwarted by any passport requirement or immigration procedure. Thus, the major reason for perpetuating stringent travel restrictions has been laid to rest