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Passport Security Easy to Breach: Govt. Probe

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 13, 2009 1:52 PM CDT

(Newser) – A US passport is easy to obtain using fake or fraudulent documents, even with extensive post-9/11 security reforms, the AP reports. At the request of a Senate committee, a government investigator went undercover and quickly obtained multiple passports, using the identities of a dead man, a 5-year-old, and two fictitious people. “This puts our nation in grave danger,” said Dianne Feinstein.

A security expert says the report shows the State Department has not done enough. “We have to address the document issue in a very big way,” she said, “and we have yet to do that across the board.” Some of the 9/11 attackers used fake supporting documents to obtain driver's licenses; although that process is now more secure, the passport findings are “very troubling,” Sen. Jon Kyl said.

People wait in line outside a US passport office in Philadelphia.
People wait in line outside a US passport office in Philadelphia.   (AP Photo)
A young man with his passport.
A young man with his passport.   (AP Photo)
A costumer service representative at the largest passport expediting company in the country.
A costumer service representative at the largest passport expediting company in the country.   (AP Photo)
Another way to skip security: sign up to be pre-verified.
Another way to skip security: sign up to be pre-verified.   (AP Photo)
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These passports can be used to purchase a weapon, fly overseas, or open a fraudulent bank account. This puts our nation in grave danger. - Sen. Dianne Feinstein

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