8 U.S.C. § 1185 — Travel control of citizens and aliens

(a) Restrictions and prohibitions. Unless the President orders otherwise, it is unlawful—

(1) for an alien^* to leave or enter, or try to leave or enter, the United States except under the reasonable rules, regulations, and orders that the President prescribes, and subject to the limits and exceptions the President prescribes;

(2) for anyone to transport, or try to transport, another person out of or into the United States while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that this section forbids that person’s departure or entry;

(3) for anyone knowingly to make a false statement in an application for permission to leave or enter the United States, intending to cause or obtain that permission for the applicant or someone else;

(4) for anyone knowingly to give, try to give, or help give another person a permit or proof of permission to leave or enter that was not issued and intended for that other person’s use;

(5) for anyone knowingly to use or try to use a permit or proof of permission to leave or enter that was not issued and intended for that person’s use;

(6) for anyone to forge, counterfeit, damage, or change, or cause or arrange for someone to forge, counterfeit, damage, or change, a permit or proof of permission to leave or enter the United States; or

(7) for anyone knowingly to use, try to use, or give another person for use a false, forged, counterfeit, damaged, or changed permit or proof of permission, or a permit or proof that was originally valid but has become or been made void or invalid.

(b) Citizens. Unless the President provides otherwise, and subject to the limits and exceptions the President authorizes and prescribes, it is unlawful for a United States citizen to leave or enter, or try to leave or enter, the United States without carrying a valid United States passport^*.

(c) Definitions. In this section, “United States” includes the Canal Zone and all territory and waters, on the mainland or islands, under United States jurisdiction. “Person” means an individual, partnership, association, company, other incorporated group of individuals, corporation, or governmental body.

(d) Nonadmission of certain aliens. This section does not give an alien who has been issued a permit to enter the United States a right to enter if, on arrival, the alien is found inadmissible under this chapter or any other law concerning aliens’ entry into the United States.

(e) Revocation of proclamation as affecting penalties. Revoking a rule, regulation, or order issued under this section does not prevent prosecution for an offense committed, or the imposition of a penalty or forfeiture whose liability arose, under this section before the rule, regulation, or order was revoked.

(f) Permits to enter. For this section, passports, visas, reentry permits, and other documents required for entry under this chapter may be treated as permits to enter.