The federal 9/11 commission revealed yesterday that eight of the 19 hijackers managed to enter the United States using doctored passports that “showed evidence of fraudulent manipulation.” In addition the commission reported the U.S. government gave suspected Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed a visa just weeks before the attacks even though he was under a federal terrorism indictment. The Pakistani-born Mohammed applied using a fake name and a doctored Saudi passport. Mohammed never entered the U.S. and was later detained in Pakistan. These revelations contradict previous statements by the government. FBI Director Robert Mueller had said that 17 or the 19 hijackers legally arrived in the country and that their paperwork would not have aroused suspicion. Phillip Zelikow, Executive Director of the 9/11 commission, said “We are not sure that these problems have been addressed. We are not sure they are even adequately acknowledged as a problem.” The report also found that at least six hijackers, including ringleader Mohamed Atta, violated U.S. immigration laws either while in the United States or while returning. The commission also released testimony by a customs official in Florida named Jose Melendez-Perez who turned away a Saudi man believed to be the 20th hijacker who arrived in Orlando on Aug. 4. According to the Los Angeles Times, Melendez-Perez said that leading up to Sept. 11, customs officials were discouraged by their superiors from hassling Saudi travelers. They were seen as big spenders who made frequent visits to theme parks in the Orlando area. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. Commission member Jamie Gorelick said, “There were many opportunities to stop the 9/11 plot.”