U.S. Cracks Down on Parents Owing Child Support: Passports Now Being Revoked

The United States government has launched a major crackdown on parents who fail to pay child support, and thousands could soon lose their ability to travel internationally.
Starting Friday, U.S. authorities will begin revoking passports of parents owing massive child support debts, with the first phase targeting those who owe $100,000 or more.
But officials say the tougher enforcement will not stop there.
The policy is expected to expand quickly to include anyone owing more than $2,500 in unpaid child support, a rule that has existed since 1996 but was rarely enforced against existing passport holders.
In the past, many people only faced issues when trying to renew their passports. Under the new system, even active passports can now be cancelled once unpaid child support is reported to federal authorities.
U.S. officials say the move is already producing results, with some parents rushing to clear their debts after hearing about the expanded enforcement earlier this year.
According to the State Department, the policy has helped recover hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid child support over the years, including huge lump-sum payments from parents trying to restore their travel privileges.
Parents affected by the crackdown will be informed that their passports are no longer valid. Those stranded outside the country may have to seek emergency travel documents from U.S. embassies just to return home.
Do you believe revoking passports is an effective way to force parents to support their children, or is the punishment too extreme?