§1541. Issuance without authority

Whoever, acting or claiming to act in any office or capacity under the United States, or a State or possession, without lawful authority grants, issues, or verifies any passport or other instrument in the nature of a passport to or for any person whomsoever; or

Whoever, being a consular officer authorized to grant, issue, or verify passports, knowingly and willfully grants, issues, or verifies any such passport to or for any person not owing allegiance, to the United States, whether a citizen or not-

Shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 771 ; Sept. 13, 1994, Pub. L. 103–322, title XIII, §130009(a)(1), title XXXIII, §330016(1)(G), 108 Stat. 2030 , 2147.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on section 219 of title 22, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Foreign Relations and Intercourse (R.S. 4078; June 14, 1902, ch. 1088, §3, 32 Stat. 386 ).

The venue provision, which followed the punishment provisions, was omitted as covered by section 3238 of this title.

Changes were made in phraseology.

Amendments

1994-Pub. L. 103–322, §330016(1)(G), which directed the amendment of this section by substituting "under this title" for "not more than $500", could not be executed because the words "not more than $500" did not appear in text subsequent to amendment by Pub. L. 103–322, §130009(a)(1). See below.

Pub. L. 103–322, §130009(a)(1), substituted "under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years" for "not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than one year" in last par.

Cross References

Limitations, period of, see section 3291 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 3291 of this title.