Section 1543 of Title 18 proscribes the forgery, alteration, etc., of
passports or the use of or furnishing to another of a forged, altered, void,
etc., passport or purported passport. It applies to instruments issued or
purportedly issued by foreign governments as well as by the United States.
SeeUnited States v. Dangdee, 616 F.2d 1118 (9th Cir. 1980).
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act
(IIRIRA)
amended this statute to provide for enhanced penalties if the offense was
committed to facilitate an act of international terrorism or a drug
trafficking
crime.