The U.S. State Department will begin revoking passports from parents who have significant unpaid court-ordered child support debt, according to reports from two news outlets. The Guardian reported that revocations will start on Friday for those who owe $100,000 or more, and then expand to those who owe $2,500 or more. Fox News reported that the State Department is set to revoke passports of thousands of parents who owe more than $2,500 in unpaid, court-ordered child support debt.
The Guardian's report highlighted the phased approach, with the initial focus on the highest debtors before moving to the broader $2,500 threshold. Fox News emphasized the number of individuals affected, stating that thousands of parents would be impacted. Both reports indicate that the State Department is moving forward with enforcement of child support obligations through passport restrictions.
The $2,500 threshold is a key figure in federal child support enforcement. The Guardian's account noted that the revocations would start with the $100,000 tier on Friday, and the expansion to the $2,500 level would follow, though no specific date for the expansion was provided. Fox News did not mention the initial $100,000 phase, focusing instead on the $2,500 threshold and the thousands of parents who would be affected.
The State Department has not publicly commented on the reports, and the exact number of passports to be revoked remains unclear. However, the reports suggest that the policy will affect a significant number of non-custodial parents who are behind on child support payments. The Guardian and Fox News both cited the State Department as the source of the policy, though neither provided direct quotes from officials.
The passport revocation program is not new; the State Department has long had the authority to deny or revoke passports for seriously delinquent child support debt. The reported action appears to be an escalation or renewed enforcement effort. The Guardian's mention of a $100,000 starting point may indicate a prioritization of the most severe cases before applying the standard $2,500 threshold.
As of the reports, the revocations are set to begin on Friday for the highest debtors. Parents who owe $2,500 or more will eventually face passport revocation, potentially affecting their ability to travel internationally. The policy is part of broader efforts to ensure compliance with child support orders.
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