Thousands of Americans could soon lose their passports as the United States government launches a tougher crackdown on unpaid child support.
The new policy, which takes effect from Friday, allows authorities to revoke existing passports belonging to parents with large unpaid child support debts.
However, the previous enforcement mainly affected passport renewal applications rather than active travel documents.
The crackdown is expected to affect about 2,700 Americans identified by the Department of Health and Human Services.
According to the U.S. State Department, the first phase of enforcement targets individuals owing $100,000 or more in unpaid child support.
Meanwhile, officials confirmed the policy will soon expand to include anyone owing above $2,500, which is the minimum amount set under a federal law introduced in 1996.
Although the law has existed for years, authorities admitted it was rarely enforced at this level.
Under the updated enforcement process, passports can now be revoked after overdue payments are officially reported to federal authorities.
Furthermore, affected individuals may discover their passports are no longer valid while planning international travel.
Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Mora Namdar, explained the reason behind the tougher action.
“We are expanding a commonsense practice that has been proven effective at getting those who owe child support to pay their debt,” Namdar said.
She also noted that parents affected by the policy could regain their passport rights after settling their debts.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials revealed that several people have already started paying off overdue child support since reports about the expansion surfaced earlier this year.
According to government records, the policy has helped recover nearly $657 million in unpaid child support since 1998.
In addition, more than $156 million was reportedly recovered through lump-sum payments over the last five years alone.
Authorities believe the stricter approach will force more parents to meet their legal responsibilities toward their children.
Parents whose passports are revoked will reportedly receive official notifications informing them that their travel documents are no longer valid.
Moreover, Americans stranded outside the country after revocation may be required to visit U.S. embassies or consulates for emergency travel papers.
The latest policy has also reopened debates about balancing child welfare enforcement with travel rights and personal freedoms.
Supporters of the measure argue that parents should not avoid financial responsibility while continuing international travel without consequences.
The State Department insists the measure is designed to improve compliance rather than punish individuals unnecessarily.
