This act revokes U.S. passports for individuals with a child support arrearage exceeding \$2,500, with an exception for emergency return to the United States.
Beth Van Duyne
Representative
TX-24
The Ensuring Children Receive Support Act strengthens child support enforcement by mandating the revocation of U.S. passports for any individual with an outstanding child support arrearage exceeding \$2,500. This measure aims to ensure financial obligations to children are met. The law includes an emergency exception allowing for the issuance of a temporary return passport for those currently abroad.
Travel Ban Hits Parents: New Bill Revokes Passports for $2,500 in Unpaid Child Support
The “Ensuring Children Receive Support Act” is straight to the point: if you owe more than $2,500 in child support arrears, the State Department is required to revoke your passport. This isn't a limitation or a restriction—it’s a full revocation, a significant change that removes previous provisions allowing for lesser restrictions. The bill’s main goal is to put muscle behind child support enforcement, making international travel impossible for those who are significantly behind on payments.
The $2,500 Line in the Sand
Let’s talk about that $2,500 threshold. For some, that might be a couple of missed payments due to a job change or a temporary financial hiccup. The bill doesn't distinguish between someone who’s chronically avoiding payment and someone who’s temporarily struggling. Once that debt crosses the $2,500 mark, the State Department is directed to pull the passport. For the custodial parent and the child, this is a win, offering a serious incentive for the non-custodial parent to catch up quickly. For the parent who owes, however, this immediately impacts their mobility and, potentially, their ability to work if their job requires international travel—say, a traveling sales rep or an engineer working on overseas projects.
Travel Restrictions Get Tougher
Currently, the government has some flexibility in dealing with parents who owe. This bill removes that flexibility, turning enforcement into an automatic, mandatory revocation process once the debt hits the limit (Sec. 2). This means no more warning shots or less severe restrictions—it’s all or nothing. If you’re abroad when this happens, the bill does offer a necessary lifeline: the State Department can issue a temporary passport, but only if you have an emergency and only for the direct purpose of flying straight home. This is a critical detail for anyone working or living overseas, but it relies on the State Department agreeing that your situation qualifies as an “emergency.”
The Real-World Impact on Work and Family
Consider a small business owner who needs to fly to Canada for a critical supply chain meeting. If they’re hit with a sudden, unexpected medical bill that causes them to fall behind on child support by $2,600, their passport is gone, and that business trip is canceled. This could jeopardize their income, which ironically, might make it harder to pay the child support they owe. While the intent is clearly to ensure children receive the financial support they need, the mandatory, severe penalty based on a relatively low threshold means that even minor, temporary financial distress could result in the loss of international travel capabilities, complicating life for those trying to maintain their income and responsibilities.