USA Takes Passports From Parents Who Do Not Pay Child Support

May 8, 2026, 19:48
InternationalPolitics

Introduction

The US government is taking away passports from people who owe a lot of money for their children.

Main Body

The government has a law from 1996. This law says people must pay for their children. If a person owes more than $2,500, the government can take their passport. Now, they are starting with 2,700 people who owe more than $100,000. Two government offices are working together. They want parents to pay the money. This plan works. Since 1998, parents paid $657 million because of this rule. If the government takes a passport, the person cannot travel. To get a new passport, the person must pay all the money. Then, the government checks the payment. This takes two or three weeks. Some people are in other countries. The government can give them a special paper. This paper only lets them fly back to the USA.

Conclusion

The US government takes passports to make parents pay for their children.

Learning

πŸ’‘ Money Words

In the story, we see words for money and payments. Let's look at how we use them:

  • Owe β†’\rightarrow When you must pay money to someone else.
    • Example: I owe $10 to my friend.
  • Pay β†’\rightarrow The act of giving money for a service or debt.
    • Example: I pay for my coffee.
  • Payment β†’\rightarrow The noun (the thing you give).
    • Example: The payment takes two weeks.

πŸ› οΈ 'Can' vs 'Cannot'

We use can for things that are possible and cannot for things that are not allowed or impossible.

extCan→ ext{Can} \rightarrow Possible / Allowed extCannot→ ext{Cannot} \rightarrow Not possible / Not allowed

From the text:

  1. The government can take their passport. (It is possible)
  2. The person cannot travel. (It is not possible)

Vocabulary Learning

passport (n.)
an official document that allows a person to travel internationally
Example:She applied for a passport before her trip.
government (n.)
the group of people who control a country
Example:The government announced new rules.
law (n.)
a rule made by the government that people must follow
Example:The law requires parents to pay child support.
child (n.)
a young person who is not yet an adult
Example:The child is playing in the park.
parents (n.)
the mother and father of a child
Example:Parents must sign the form.
pay (v.)
to give money for something
Example:He will pay the bill.
travel (v.)
to go from one place to another
Example:She will travel to France.
money (n.)
currency that people use to buy things
Example:He saved money for a car.
rule (n.)
a statement that says what is allowed or not
Example:The rule says no smoking.
office (n.)
a place where people work
Example:He works in the office.
plan (n.)
a set of actions to achieve a goal
Example:The plan is to improve safety.
week (n.)
a period of seven days
Example:The meeting lasts one week.
country (n.)
a nation with its own government
Example:Canada is a large country.
special (adj.)
different from the usual or ordinary
Example:She wore a special dress.
paper (n.)
a sheet of material used for writing
Example:He wrote on a paper.