The United States government has announced plans to step up enforcement against parents who fail to pay child support, warning that affected individuals could lose their passports.
In a statement released on Thursday, the United States Department of State said the initiative is being implemented under the administration of President Donald Trump in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
According to the department, the measure targets Americans who owe more than $2,500 in unpaid child support and is aimed at ensuring that parents meet their financial obligations to their children.
“U.S. law requires Americans to comply with child support obligations in order to receive a U.S. passport and allows the Department of State to revoke the passport of an individual who owes more than $2,500 in child support,” the statement said.
The department disclosed that it is now collaborating with HHS “on an unprecedented scale” to track individuals with outstanding child support debts and apply sanctions where necessary.
Officials warned that once a passport is revoked, it can no longer be used for international travel.
“Once a passport is revoked, it may no longer be used for travel,” the agency stated.
The State Department advised affected citizens to quickly settle their obligations with relevant state child support agencies to avoid losing their travel privileges.
UK dual Nationals may be denied entry under new passport rules
“Any American with significant child support debt should arrange payment to the relevant state or states now to prevent passport revocation,” the statement added.
The department explained that individuals would only regain passport eligibility after fully resolving their debts and being removed from the delinquency records maintained by HHS.
“The State Department is putting American families first through our passport process,” the statement noted.
The US government in February imposed sanctions on eight Nigerians accused of ties to extremist groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), freezing any assets and property linked to them within US jurisdiction.
The action was detailed in a 3,000-page publication dated February 10 by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), an arm of the United States Department of the Treasury. The document, sighted on Monday, also listed individuals sanctioned for cybercrime and other security-related offences.
The move comes amid heightened scrutiny from US lawmakers, who recently recommended visa restrictions and asset freezes against certain Nigerian figures and organisations over alleged violations of religious freedom and persecution of Christians. Among those named in congressional recommendations were former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, and Miyetti Allah Kautal.
