Nigeria: US to begin revoking passports of parents owing large child support debts

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

The U.S. State Department will start revoking passports of parents who owe large amounts of unpaid child support, beginning Friday.

The policy will first target about 2,700 Americans owing $100,000 or more, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. It is part of a broader plan to later include parents owing over $2,500, in line with a 1996 law that has been rarely enforced.

Previously, only people renewing passports faced penalties. Under the new policy, HHS will send names of all parents owing more than $2,500 to the State Department for revocation. Officials said the total number affected could reach several thousand once state records are compiled.

“We are expanding a commonsense practice that has been proven effective at getting those who owe child support to pay their debt,” said Mora Namdar, assistant secretary of state for consular affairs. “Once these parents resolve their debts, they can once again enjoy the privilege of a U.S. passport.”

The State Department said some parents had already started paying debts after reports of the policy expansion emerged in February. Since 1998, the measure has helped states recover about $657 million in unpaid support, including over $156 million from more than 24,000 lump-sum payments in the last five years.

Affected parents will be notified that their passports are no longer valid for travel. They can reapply only after confirming payment of their debt. Americans abroad whose passports are revoked will need to visit a U.S. embassy or consulate for an emergency travel document to return home.