U.S. to Crack Down on Passport Access for Parents Behind on Child Support
The United States government is set to strengthen measures against parents who fail to pay child support by revoking or blocking their passports. While similar actions have been taken under a law enacted nearly 30 years ago, the Trump administration plans to begin the process proactively, according to three U.S. officials who spoke to the Associated Press.
Under the 1996 federal law, passports can be denied or revoked if a parent owes more than $2,500 in child support. Previously, the U.S. Department of State typically acted only when an individual applied for a passport or other consular services, meaning enforcement relied on the parent’s initiative.
Under the new approach, the State Department will independently identify and cancel passports based on data from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Officials say the exact number of affected individuals is unclear but could be in the thousands.
The first phase targets parents with over $100,000 in unpaid child support, estimated at fewer than 500 individuals. Those who enter into a structured repayment plan with HHS may avoid passport revocation. Officials acknowledge that lowering the threshold in the future could affect significantly more people, though no specific timeline has been announced.
In a statement to AP, the State Department said, “We are reviewing options to ensure long-standing laws are effectively enforced so parents who owe significant child support cannot avoid their legal and moral responsibilities.”
The 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act established the “passport denial program.” According to the Office of Child Support Enforcement, the program has collected approximately $621 million in overdue child support since its inception, including nine cases where more than $300,000 was recovered.
If the new initiative takes effect, thousands of parents could face restrictions on international travel unless they promptly settle their outstanding child support obligations.
