The debate over whether travel is a "right" or a "privilege" is both legal and philosophical. In the United States, the Supreme Court has long held that the right to travel (interstate) is a "fundamental right" protected by the Constitution, meaning the government cannot easily restrict your movement between states. However, international travel is often legally classified as a "privilege" because it requires a passport, which the government has the authority to grant or revoke based on various criteria (such as criminal history or national security). Philosophically, many human rights organizations argue that freedom of movement is a basic human right, as outlined in Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 2026, recent judicial rulings, such as those from the Punjab & Haryana High Court, have even argued that in a globalized world, international travel has transitioned from a "rarefied privilege" to a "quotidian necessity" and an indispensable facet of personal liberty.