State Department set to revoke passports of thousands of parents with unpaid child support debt
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- Revocations will begin Friday and will initially focus on parents who owe $100,000 or more in past-due child support.
- Under Federal law, anyone with more than $2,500 in unpaid, court-ordered child support can be denied a passport or have an existing one yanked, according to a release by the State Department Thursday.
- Officials said the department is expanding coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services to include parents above that threshold.
- The enforcement push is intended to pressure delinquent parents to comply with court-ordered child support obligations, officials said.
- Once a passport is revoked, it may no longer be used for travel, even if the debt is later paid, according to State Department guidance.
The US State Department is poised to revoke the passports of thousands of Americans who have failed to pay substantial child support debts. This move, set to begin on Friday, will initially target individuals who owe $100,000 or more in past-due child support, a group that includes approximately 2,700 passport holders.
Under federal law, anyone with more than $2,500 in unpaid, court-ordered child support can be denied a passport or have an existing one revoked. This enforcement action is part of an expanded effort by the State Department, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services, to ensure compliance with child support obligations.
Officials have stated that the primary goal of this initiative is to pressure delinquent parents into fulfilling their court-ordered financial responsibilities. Once a passport is revoked, it cannot be used for travel, even if the outstanding debt is subsequently settled.
This policy underscores the government's commitment to enforcing child support laws and ensuring that parents meet their financial obligations to their children. The revocation of passports is a significant step in the broader strategy to address the issue of unpaid child support, which affects many families across the United States.
By targeting those with the largest debts first, the State Department aims to send a strong message about the importance of complying with child support orders.
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