New Passports Being Launched New Passports Being Launched The United States will introduce new passports with increased security features as part of its war against terrorism. From April 8, 2002 every new passport issued will contain a digital photograph of the holder and other built-in security measures that ,at present, are being kept secret. The security of travel documents in the post-September 11 world has become even more important. According to the State Department, the new passport has many features that make it one of the most secure travel documents produced anywhere in the world. Getting these more secure passports into circulation will help minimize the misuse of American passports by criminals, terrorists and others.