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POLITICS AND GOV'T :::: CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
US to revoke passports over unpaid child support, warning issued to delinquent parents
Caribbean Times | June 4-17, 2026 caribbeantimes.com
Child Support
(BROOKLYN, New York): The U.S. Department of State says it is stepping up enforcement against parents who owe significant child support, warning that passports may be revoked for individuals with more than $2,500 in outstanding court-ordered payments. In a state- ment released May 7, 2026, the de- partment said it is using what it de- scribed as "commonsense tools" to strengthen compliance with child support obligations and ensure fi- nancial support for children.
Under existing U.S. law, individ- uals who owe more than $2,500 in child support can be deemed inel- igible for a passport. The State De- partment said it is now working more closely with the Department of Health and Human Services to identify cases of significant delin- quency and enforce restrictions, in- cluding passport revocation.
Once a passport is revoked, it cannot be used for international travel. Eligibility for a new passport can only be restored after the debt is paid in full and the individual is cleared by state child support en- forcement agencies. "Any Ameri-
COURT HEARING to the Sheriff of ed to notify
Cour can with significant child support debt should arrange payment... to prevent passport revocation," the department said, adding that the measure is intended to support the welfare of children and ensure com- pliance with existing federal law.
nent residents, who typically travel using their country of citizenship's passport. The enforcement expan- sion comes as federal agencies in- crease coordination on child sup- port compliance, a long-standing but now more actively enforced requirement under U.S. law.
The announcement is likely to have relevance for U.S. citizens in immigrant communities, including Caribbean-origin families, where cross-border travel and dual na- tionality are common. However, the policy applies only to U.S. passport holders and not to lawful perma-
Trinidad and Tobago's national crisis?
York): Trinidad and To- bago is allegedly facing a NATIONAL CRISIS, yet the country seems trapped in a cycle of distractions, political drama, and public confusion. This is the pre- vailing view from across social media, especially Facebook. From published reports, crime is reportedly rising, the cost of living is hurting families, frustra- tion is growing among the people, and many citizens are beginning to ask se- rious questions about the direction of the nation.
Trinidad & Tobago cit- izens have weighed in on the situation stating that whenever a country is on the verge of instability, dis- tractions become the easi- est tool to shift the public's attention away from the real problems affecting or- dinary people's lives. The people of Trinidad and Continued on page 31
ICE clarifies employer audit process and penalties for work authorization violations
(BROOKLYN, New York): U.S. Immigration and Customs En- forcement (ICE) has issued up- dated guidance detailing how it conducts employer work eligibility inspections and assesses penalties under federal law.
The guidance centers on Form I-9, the mandatory employment eligibility verification document required under the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986. Employers in the United States are legally required to ver- ify the identity and work authorization of all employees hired after November 6, 1986, and to retain those records for government in- spection.
Under federal regulations, em- ployers must complete Form I-9 for each employee and maintain it either in paper form or through an approved electronic system capable of producing readable copies. Re- cords must generally be retained for at least three years from the date of hire or one year after employ- ment ends, whichever is longer.
ICE, through its Homeland Se- curity Investigations (HSI) unit, initiates compliance reviews by serving employers with a Notice of Inspection (NOI). Once served, employers typically have at least three business days to produce re- quested Form I-9 records.
In addition to the I-9 forms, ICE may request supporting documents such as payroll records, employee lists, business licenses, and incor- poration documents. After review- ing submitted records, ICE agents assess whether the forms comply with federal requirements. Em- ployers may be given 10 business days to correct technical or proce- dural errors identified during the inspection. Failure to correct those issues can result in them being treated as substantive violations.
Possible findings and notices Following an inspection, ICE may issue several types of notices depending on its findings. A No- tice of Suspect Documents informs employers that some employee
CE documentation may not be valid or may not relate to the employee in question. Employers are advised of potential penalties for continuing to employ unauthorized workers but are given an opportunity to re- spond with proof of work authori- Continued on page 31