The United States government has announced plans to intensify enforcement against parents who owe more than $2,500 in unpaid child support by revoking their passports.
In a statement released Thursday, the US Department of State said the move is being implemented by the administration of Donald Trump in collaboration with the US Department of Health and Human Services.
According to the department, the policy is aimed at ensuring that parents who fail to meet their financial responsibilities to their children face “real consequences”.
The statement noted that US law already requires citizens to comply with child support obligations before obtaining a passport and also permits authorities to revoke passports belonging to individuals owing more than $2,500 in child support.
The State Department said it is now working with health authorities “on an unprecedented scale” to identify and penalise people with significant outstanding child support debts.
Officials warned that once a passport is revoked, it can no longer be used for international travel.
The department urged affected parents to clear their debts immediately to avoid sanctions.
“Any American with significant child support debt should arrange payment to the relevant state or states now to prevent passport revocation,” the statement said.
Authorities added that passport eligibility would only be restored after all outstanding child support debts are settled with the appropriate state enforcement agency and the individual is removed from delinquency records maintained by HHS.
