Legality of preventing otherwise law-abidding US citizens travel to 'join terrorists'

Delta4Embassy

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Dec 12, 2013
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Something that's bothered me with all the coverage of the British and US girls trying to get to Syria to join up with ISIS is is preventing such travel of a law-abidding US citizen even legal? I understand the intent of preventing it, but I'm not sure I understand the legality of it. During the Cold War, many US citizens travelled to an from the Soviet Union, including Lee Harvey Oswald. Was it illegal then and the technology just didn't exist to prevent it like it does today?

Doesn't arresting a US citizen for what they may do (can always change their mind at least in theory,) prior to any illegal act (travelling to Turkey or other part-way points isn't illegal as travelling to Syria proper presumedly) amount to a 'Future Crimes' ala "Minority Report?"
 

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