Kamal Ghorui
Thousands of American parents who owe large sums in unpaid child support are set to lose their passports as the US government moves to expand enforcement of a long-standing federal law, reports the Associated Press.The US State Department confirmed that revocations will begin on Friday, initially targeting parents who owe $100,000 or more. Officials estimate around 2,700 passport holders fall into this category, based on data provided by the Department of Health and Human Services.The move is a change from earlier practice, where passports were usually only flagged when people applied for renewal or used consular services. Under the new system, authorities will now actively revoke passports based on debt information shared by federal and state agencies.“We are expanding a commonsense practice that has been proven effective at getting those who owe child support to pay their debt,” assistant secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said.She added: “Once these parents resolve their debts, they can once again enjoy the privilege of a US passport.”The policy is expected to expand further to include parents who owe more than $2,500 in unpaid child support, the threshold set under a 1996 law. The number of people affected at that level has not yet been confirmed, but it could reach several thousand more once state-level data collection is complete.Under the system, the DHHS will notify the State Department of individuals with arrears. Those identified will have their passports revoked and will be required to clear their debts before reapplying for travel documents.Parents whose passports are revoked will be informed that their documents are no longer valid for international travel. Those who have already left the country at the time of revocation will need to contact a US embassy or consulate to obtain emergency travel documents to return home.The programme has already shown results with some parents paying overdue amounts after news of the crackdown emerged earlier this year.The policy is part of the Passport Denial Program created under federal law in 1996, which allows the government to restrict passports for individuals with significant child support arrears. Since its introduction, the programme has helped collect hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid support, including more than $156 million in the past five years alone. The enforcement will be rolled out in stages, beginning with higher debt thresholds before potentially reaching to lower levels of arrears.
