State Department's "Think of the Children!!" Denies US Citizens Passports
Aug 15, 2007, 11:33 am
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State Department's "Think of the Children!!" Denies US Citizens Passports
Passport rules snag child support cash
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer Tue Aug 14, 3:34 PM ET
WASHINGTON - The price of a passport: $311,491 in back child support payments for a U.S. businessman now living in China; $46,000 for a musician seeking to perform overseas, and $45,849 for a man planning a Dominican Republic vacation.
.......
The passport denial program is just one of several tools the government has to collect overdue child support.
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer Tue Aug 14, 3:34 PM ET
WASHINGTON - The price of a passport: $311,491 in back child support payments for a U.S. businessman now living in China; $46,000 for a musician seeking to perform overseas, and $45,849 for a man planning a Dominican Republic vacation.
.......
The passport denial program is just one of several tools the government has to collect overdue child support.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/pa..._child_support
So what other things will new and renewal passport applicants be subject to prior to getting their passport issued/renewed? And what about US citizens abroad next year who need a new or renewed passport but are subject to passport denial?
Note the US Government spin that uses this "benefit" of expanded passport requirements to justify the passport requirements for more and more travel.
Last edited by GUWonder; Aug 15, 2007 at 11:41 am
Aug 15, 2007, 11:39 am
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Personally, I don't think this is a bad idea. I don't agree that a person should be "stranded" abroad though. Perhaps someone in that situation would be allowed to return home on the expired passport, but can't leave again until they pay up.
Aug 15, 2007, 11:50 am
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Watch more American "deadbeat dads" (and moms) in this situation pay smuggling syndicates to get them out of the US or, alternatively, trying to acquire or use passports from other countries. This program collects less than $25 million dollars while growing the market for criminals and encouraging the permanent relocation/settlement of Americans abroad.
Human traffiking operations around the US-Mexico border and elsewhere will see some boom in business next year.
Human traffiking operations around the US-Mexico border and elsewhere will see some boom in business next year.
Aug 15, 2007, 12:02 pm
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I don't think that this would strand an American citizen trying to re-enter, but it certainly might not let them leave.
If it is/was an honest mistake on the part of the accused, I might have some sympathy for them. If it is a case of someone trying to avoid their legal duties, then I'm glad this system is in place.
Human trafficking, while tragic, is an unfortunate fact of life, and these people who engage in it will face the same uncertainties and possible prosecution if caught.
If it is/was an honest mistake on the part of the accused, I might have some sympathy for them. If it is a case of someone trying to avoid their legal duties, then I'm glad this system is in place.
Human trafficking, while tragic, is an unfortunate fact of life, and these people who engage in it will face the same uncertainties and possible prosecution if caught.
Aug 15, 2007, 12:10 pm
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They won't be driving in California, either (or at least shouldn't be driving). We've been suspending drivers licenses since 1996 for failure to pay child support. As it seems like half the state is driving with suspended licenses though, I'm not sure if it really has any impact here.
Aug 15, 2007, 12:11 pm
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The full article here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/pa..._child_support
So what other things will new and renewal passport applicants be subject to prior to getting their passport issued/renewed? And what about US citizens abroad next year who need a new or renewed passport but are subject to passport denial?
Note the US Government spin that uses this "benefit" of expanded passport requirements to justify the passport requirements for more and more travel.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/pa..._child_support
So what other things will new and renewal passport applicants be subject to prior to getting their passport issued/renewed? And what about US citizens abroad next year who need a new or renewed passport but are subject to passport denial?
Note the US Government spin that uses this "benefit" of expanded passport requirements to justify the passport requirements for more and more travel.
I say stick it to them. If they want their passports, they know exactly what they have to do.
Aug 15, 2007, 12:17 pm
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Aug 15, 2007, 12:18 pm
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Bruce
Aug 15, 2007, 12:20 pm
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The State of Illinois can yank my professional license for failure to pay child support, income taxes or student loans. I don't have a problem with that or withholding passports from deadbeat parents.
I mean, it's not like they can take away their ability to have more children until they've paid for the ones they already have.
I mean, it's not like they can take away their ability to have more children until they've paid for the ones they already have.
Aug 15, 2007, 12:24 pm
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They won't be driving in California, either (or at least shouldn't be driving). We've been suspending drivers licenses since 1996 for failure to pay child support. As it seems like half the state is driving with suspended licenses though, I'm not sure if it really has any impact here.
Aug 15, 2007, 12:30 pm
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Aug 15, 2007, 12:33 pm
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OK, what about driver's licenses? Should they be suspended, too? Where do you stop? What if the government forbade people under these circumstances from registering real-estate transactions (making it impossible to buy or sell property)? How about marriage licenses? Should people with child-support problems be forbidden from marrying? The list goes on and on.
Bruce
Bruce
Aug 15, 2007, 12:34 pm
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Out of the possibilities that you enumerated, I would say that this is one that a state could have a rational basis for regulating (with regard to child support). I don't think it would take much of an argument to convince a court that a state has a rational basis in forbidding people with child-support problems from marrying. Assuming, of course, "rational basis" is the correct measure of scrutiny for marriage cases, which it very well might not be.
Why should the federal government deny passports just for child support payments due? Why not credit card and other legal obligations due as well? And parking tickets too before getting a passport?
Given the competency -- actually lack thereof -- with government aviation blacklists, why expect any better from whatever subsidiary lists the government uses to compile a blacklist of citizens not entitled to a passport?