Some New Yorkers Could Have Their Passport Revoked Soon

With summer right around the corner, there is bad news for some New Yorkers. Traveling abroad or anywhere that requires a passport could soon be impossible. The current administration is looking to utilize a 30-year-old law to punish some parents. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The overall goal of the Act was to reduce the number of Americans on welfare. One of the facets of the Act focuses on parents who are in arrears with their child support.

"Under the new law, states can implement tough child support enforcement techniques. The new law will expand wage garnishment, allow states to seize assets, allows states to require community service in some cases, and enable states to revoke drivers and professional licenses for parents who owe delinquent child support."

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Feds To Use Passport Denial Program 101

Any parent who has been neglecting their child support payments with a balance of $2,500 or more can have their federal travel documents revoked by the United States government under the Act.

"The Act provides for the denial, revocation, and restriction of U.S. passports when a parent owes at least $2,500 in past-due support. Child support agencies submit information on parents who meet the criteria for passport denial."

In the past, most passports of delinquent parents were not revoked until they tried to renew them. Now, according to the Associated Press, current passports will be revoked. A White House official said that the feds will begin to target past-due parents with information provided by the Health and Human Services Department.

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Because of the potentially massive number of people who could be affected by the enforcement of the Act, the administration said it will start off using a tier system. The first group to have the law enforced on them is those who owe over $100,000 in child support. Parents who enter into a payment plan could avoid passport revocation.

I fully support using this law to make deadbeats pay for their kids. It could help remove some New Yorkers from welfare. If a person can afford to travel abroad, they can afford to pay their child support!

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