The United States Department of State has announced that it will begin revoking passports of parents who have accumulated significant unpaid child support debts.
According to the department, as reported by the Associated Press on Thursday, enforcement will commence on Friday.
The initial phase will focus on individuals owing at least $100,000 in child support arrears.
Data from the Department of Health and Human Services indicates that roughly 2,700 Americans may be affected at the outset of the rollout.
Officials said the measure forms part of a broader enforcement effort that will later extend to parents owing more than $2,500, in line with a 1996 law that has seen limited enforcement over the years.
Authorities also noted that the total number of people affected under the $2,500 threshold is still being assessed, as HHS continues to compile records from state agencies.
However, they suggested the figure could reach several thousand.
Previously, passport restrictions applied mainly to individuals applying for renewals. Under the expanded policy, HHS will now transmit the names of all parents owing over $2,500 to the State Department, which will then move to revoke their passports.
Explaining the rationale behind the decision, assistant secretary of state for consular affairs Mora Namdar said, “We are expanding a commonsense practice that has been proven effective at getting those who owe child support to pay their debt.
“Once these parents resolve their debts, they can once again enjoy the privilege of a US passport.”
The State Department further stated that the policy appears to have already influenced compliance, with some parents beginning to settle outstanding payments after reports of the expansion surfaced in February.
“While we can’t confirm the causation in all of those cases, we are taking this action precisely to impel these parents to do the right thing by their children and by US law,” the state department said.
Officials also pointed to long-standing outcomes from the programme, noting that since its introduction in 1998, states have recovered substantial unpaid child support funds.
They estimated recoveries at about $657 million overall, including more than $156 million from over 24,000 lump-sum payments within the past five years.
Those affected by passport revocation will be notified that their travel documents are no longer valid for international travel. Eligibility for a new passport will only be restored after verification that all child support obligations have been cleared.
The department added that Americans whose passports are revoked while abroad would need to contact a US embassy or consulate to obtain emergency travel documents in order to return home.
