WASHINGTON — A Democrat Senator from Connecticut has joined the ranks of prominent U.S. politicians demanding answers from the State Dept over passports.

In recent weeks, Americans living in Israel have been roiled over the ongoing difficulties in obtaining passports, which has created a crisis as Pesach approaches.

Wait times for appointments at the US Embassy can be many long months. Especially affected are parents of babies born in recent months. The inability to obtain Consular Reports of Birth Abroad and first time passports are preventing many families from traveling home to the US for Pesach.

The situation has been been further exacerbated by a new rule cancelling emergency passport appointments for newborns. Until recently, emergency passports had been a solution for families with newborns seeking to track home for Pesach.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D- CT) has sent a scathing letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. He also tweeted about the issue, saying: “US citizens in Israel are encountering inexplicable difficulties obtaining passports. These seemingly unnecessary obstacles are deeply frustrating before the Passover holiday. I am demanding that the State Department end these delays.”

In his letter, Blumenthal expresses deep concern about the difficulties experienced by US citizens in Israel. He also questions if similar delays are affecting US citizens in other countries, as well.

Blumenthal is a prominent Democrat Senator, and his letter is expected to be taken seriously by State Department officials. Characterizing the situation as ‘unacceptable’, the Senator closes his letter by demanding a response no later than March 22.

NY Senator Chuck Schumer has been vocal about the issue as well, in addition to prominent New York representatives on both sides of the aisle.

In addition, sources tell VINnews that this issue is now on the radar of officials in the White House.

As reported by VINnews