Thousands Of Americans Warned Of Passport Cancellations As State Department Reinforces 30-Year-Old Law

Interesting use of citizenship to address “deadbeat” dads and moms:

U.S. officials have confirmed that the Department of State is starting active revocations of passports for parents who owe more than $2,500 in child support. Before this, the department was only able to deny or cancel the passports of these individuals when they initiated contact, such as for a renewal or other consular services.

In a statement released on Monday (Feb. 10), the State Department issued a strongly worded warning for “deadbeat parents,” as it begins proactive blocking of passports based on data shared by the Health and Human Services Department (HHS). This shift follows recent reports of U.S. travelers having their passports canceled without their knowledge, leading to detention and deportation abroad.

Established 30 years ago, the Passport Denial Program allows the federal government to freeze the travel rights of parents in arrears. Here’s a closer look at the changes to its enforcement, which are estimated to affect thousands of Americans.

U.S. State Department Begins Passport Cancellation For Parents With Unpaid Child Support

Three U.S. officials confirmed to the Associated Press that the State Department will soon revoke currently valid passports of parents who owe over $2500 in child support back payments, based on its “own initiative” and with the help of HHS data. While the changes have not yet been publicly announced, the source said that the changes to the Passport Denial Program will come in tiers, starting with passport holders with more than $100,000 in child support debt.

Less than 500 people are included in this group, but once the threshold is lowered, changes could affect thousands of U.S. citizens overall. In a statement sent via email, the State Department said it “is reviewing options” to enforce the 30-year-old Passport Denial Program, which was established under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.

Source: Thousands Of Americans Warned Of Passport Cancellations As State Department Reinforces 30-Year-Old Law