US State Department revokes passports over unpaid child support
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 7
US State Department revokes passports over unpaid child support
11 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 7
Revocations start Friday for about 2,700 passport holders owing $100,000 or more, with the policy later widening to debts above $2,500.
Previously, the penalty mainly hit people renewing passports; now Health and Human Services will report all qualifying arrears and affected parents must clear debts before getting new documents.
Officials said hundreds have already resolved arrears since the expansion was reported. The programme, rooted in a 1996 law, has helped states collect $657m since 1998.
Could revoking passports for child support debt unintentionally prevent family reunification for children in foster care?
With thousands facing passport loss, what prevents administrative errors from stranding innocent citizens abroad?
Does using a travel ban for child support set a new precedent for enforcing other types of civil debt?