A parent’s passport can be revoked if they fail to pay child support thanks to a new Trump administration enforcement policy.The tool has proven effective in putting children first, compelling many noncustodial parents to immediately pay thousands in overdue child support, some making single payments of upwards of $100,000.Since 1996, the State Department, in partnership with the Office of Child Support Enforcement at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has used the Passport Denial Program as a mechanism to compel child support payments.
The program focused on denying new passport applications and renewals for parents owing $2,500 or more in child support.While our office has found this has been effective, generating more than $660 million in reported collections since its inception, passports only need to be renewed every 10 years.That means the program has missed opportunities in many cases to compel immediate action — until now.In May, the Administration for Children and Families launched an initiative in collaboration with the State Department to actively revoke passports held by individuals owing substantial child support arrearages.
Now, passports are being revoked for parents who owe $50,000 or more in child support, and there are plans to lower this threshold.The program has already compelled a number of noncustodial parents to make large child support payments.FLIGHT PASSENGER BLASTS 'INCOMPETENT PARENTS' AFTER UNRULY CHILD FORCES PLANE DELAYA father in Nevada wanted to take his son abroad this summer to celebrate the young man’s graduation from high school.
But the father’s passport had been revoked due to his failure to pay child support.No problem — the dad made a $119,000 child support payment to receive his new passport and take his son abroad.The Trump administration is revoking passports as a way of forcing parents to pay back child support.
(Getty)A Connecticut noncustodial parent needed to travel to Europe for a busines...