The U.S. government will begin revoking passports this week for parents who owe $100,000 or more in unpaid child support, according to reports from the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Officials say the policy is expected to expand soon to include individuals owing more than $2,500, matching the threshold established under a largely underused 1996 federal law
What the Policy Means
Under the expanded enforcement effort:
• Passport holders with major unpaid child support debt could have their passports revoked
• Individuals may lose the ability to travel internationally
• The government says the goal is to pressure parents into resolving overdue support obligations
Government Response
Officials say the move is intended to strengthen enforcement of child support laws and ensure parents fulfill financial obligations to their children.
According to the State Department, the program has already helped states recover hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid support since it began.
Bottom Line
The U.S. government is moving forward with expanded enforcement against unpaid child support by revoking passports for certain parents beginning this week, starting with those owing $100,000 or more and potentially expanding to far lower thresholds in the near future.
