Additional Coverage:
The U.S. government is stepping up efforts to crack down on parents with significant unpaid child support by revoking their passports, potentially grounding them from international travel until their debts are paid. This move comes under a law that’s been on the books since 1996 but is now being enforced more aggressively, officials told The Associated Press.
Previously, the State Department only acted to revoke passports when individuals applied for renewal or sought consular services, meaning enforcement relied largely on people initiating contact. Now, the department plans to take a more proactive approach, using information from the Health and Human Services Department to identify and revoke passports of those with outstanding child support debts exceeding $2,500.
Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity since the policy hasn’t been formally announced, said the rollout will be gradual. The first phase will focus on those who owe more than $100,000, a group estimated to be fewer than 500 individuals. These parents will be notified in advance and have the opportunity to avoid passport revocation by arranging payment plans.
Lowering the debt threshold would increase the number of affected individuals substantially, though officials have not provided a timeline or estimates for subsequent phases.
In a statement responding to inquiries, the State Department reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing this long-standing law, emphasizing that parents must fulfill their child support obligations. Since the program’s inception under the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, it has helped collect nearly $621 million in overdue payments, including several recoveries over $300,000.
This renewed enforcement signals a tougher stance on ensuring child support payments are made, with the clear message: those owing significant arrears must settle their debts before they can regain travel privileges.