SouthFloridamom9, it is the same process as collecting child support. A judgment for a debt is obtained (in this case through default). Part of the process is that a debtor’s hearing (or affidavit is sent to debtor) is held and the creditor gets to ask questions of the debtor - where do you work, what are bank account numbers, what are your assets. If the debtor doesn’t respond, the court issues a warrant for you to appear. If you don’t, the only power the court has is to arrest you.
What do you suggest, that the debtor gets to keep ignoring the court because paying a student loan is not as important as paying child support? The debtor is not being arrested for the debt, but for ignoring the court. Courts do not like to be ignored. Bad things happen if you ignore the court.
I’ve signed a few of those warrants. It is not done lightly. All warrants are served by the police, sheriffs, or marshals. The court decides on the warrant, the law officers just serve the warrants and don’t know or care if it is for a debt or child support or failing to appear on traffic tickets or for ‘real’ crimes. Some people ONLY respond to being arrested.