A 17-page Homeland Security Investigations Intelligence Report warns the law enforcers of ISIS's ability to create fake passports by using Syrian government assets that the group had seized.
Based on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enfrocement's intelligence sources, ISIS has access to passport printing machines and blank passport books. This means that such documents could be faked.
ISIS access to Syrian government buildings like Deir ez-Zour last summer and a passport office located in Raqqa gave the militant group a chance to steal biographical data and fingerprint info on Syrian citizens.
"Since more than 17 months [have] passed since Raqqa and Deir ez-Zour fell to ISIS, it is possible that individuals from Syria with passports 'issued' in these ISIS controlled cities or who had passport blanks, may have traveled to the U.S.," the intelligence report says according to ABC News.
The information that ISIS may have the ability to produce fake passports was rated "moderate confidence," the second-highest rating given for source assessments.
"The intelligence community is concerned that they [ISIS] have the ability, the capability to manufacture fraudulent passports, which is a concern in any setting," FBI Director James Comey said.
Fake passports in Syria are very common that they don't consider them illegal anymore.
"The source further stated that fake Syrian passports are so prevalent in Syria that Syrians do not even view possessing them as illegal. Fake Syrian passports can be obtained in Syria for $200 to $400 and that backdated passport stamps to be placed in the passport cost the same."
In September, Dutch News reported that Harald Doornbos acquired a fake Syrian passport and identification card with a picture of Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Doornbos got the passport within 40 hours after paying €750 ($824.44) for the passport.
"If we are able to buy a good quality forged Syrian passport, so can Syria fighters... and jihadis. Then it is relatively simple for them to enter the EU unnoticed and commit terrorist attacks," Doornboos said.
The Home Security Investigations warns that if ISIS is able to produce fake passports, their operations will increase and expand outside of their operational controlled areas.
