Lead

The US State Department has announced it will begin revoking the passports of American parents who owe significant amounts of unpaid child support, a move it says will enforce parents' "legal and moral obligations to their children." The policy, which takes effect Friday, initially targets parents owing $100,000 or more, affecting about 2,700 passport holders, and will later expand to cover all those with arrears above $2,500, according to the Associated Press and The Guardian.

Coverage Comparison

Both BBC and The Guardian reported on the State Department's announcement, though they emphasized different aspects. BBC focused on the general policy and its legal basis, while The Guardian provided more detail on the threshold amounts, the number of affected individuals, and the program's history. Both outlets noted that the policy is allowed under a rarely-enforced 1996 federal law.

The Guardian reported that the State Department told the Associated Press on Thursday that revocations would begin Friday and initially target those owing $100,000 or more, affecting about 2,700 passport holders. The guardian also noted that the program would be expanded to cover parents owing more than $2,500, the threshold set by the 1996 law, but that the number of additional people affected is not yet known because Health and Human Services is still collecting data from state agencies.

BBC reported that the State Department announced it would revoke passports of those with "significant outstanding" debt of more than $2,500, but did not provide the immediate $100,000 threshold or the 2,700 figure. BBC also noted that the policy was previously only applied when parents sought to renew their passports, a point also made by The Guardian.

Key Claims

  • The US State Department will begin revoking passports of parents who owe $100,000 or more in unpaid child support, effective Friday, affecting about 2,700 people, as reported by The Guardian and the Associated Press.
  • The program will be expanded to cover parents owing more than $2,500, the threshold set by a 1996 law, according to both BBC and The Guardian. The exact number of additional people affected is not yet known.
  • Passport revocation is allowed under a rarely-enforced 1996 federal law, as reported by BBC.
  • Parents whose passports are revoked will not be eligible for a new one until their child support debt is paid, according to BBC and The Guardian.
  • The Health and Human Services Department will inform the State Department of all past-due payments above $2,500, as reported by The Guardian.
  • Parents who resolve their debts can apply for a new passport, according to a State Department official quoted by The Guardian.
  • The program has collected $657 million in arrears since 1998, a figure reported only by The Guardian.

Perspectives

State Department perspective

According to the State Department, the policy is a "commonsense practice" that has been "proven effective" at getting parents to pay child support. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said, "Once these parents resolve their debts, they can once again enjoy the privilege of a US passport." The department also noted that since news of the expansion broke, "hundreds of parents took action and resolved their arrears with state authorities," though it could not confirm causation.

Legal and policy perspective

The policy is based on a 1996 federal law that had been rarely enforced. Previously, the penalty was only applied when parents with such debt sought to renew their passports. The new policy proactive revocation represents a more aggressive enforcement approach, aimed at impelling parents to fulfill their obligations, as explained by the State Department.

Affected parents perspective

Parents who owe child support will now face the loss of their passport, a significant restriction on their ability to travel internationally. Those outside the US at the time of revocation will need to visit a US embassy or consulate to obtain an emergency travel document to return home, as reported by the Associated Press. The policy could affect many thousands more people once the expansion to the $2,500 threshold takes effect, though the exact number is still being determined.

Historical effectiveness

The program has collected $657 million in child support arrears since 1998, according to figures cited by The Guardian, suggesting that the threat of passport revocation has been effective in prompting payments. The State Department's data also indicates that hundreds of parents resolved their arrears after the expansion was reported in February, though the department acknowledged it could not confirm causation in all cases.

The State Department advises parents with outstanding child support debt to arrange payment with relevant state agencies to avoid passport revocation.