Summary
A 50-year-old U.S. citizen, originally from the People's Republic of China (PRC), was denied a security clearance under Guideline B (Foreign Influence). The applicant admitted to three allegations related to her family's citizenship and her travels to the PRC, which raised significant security concerns.
Specifically, the applicant has four family members (mother, father, sister, and brother) who are citizens and residents of the PRC. The administrative judge noted that the PRC is a totalitarian state known to exploit, pressure, or coerce U.S. citizens of Chinese ancestry for information, and that these family ties raised security concerns. Additionally, since becoming a U.S. citizen in 2001, the applicant traveled to the PRC three times (twice in 2002 and once in 2004) to visit family. These travels were deemed to make her and her family potentially vulnerable to exploitation by the PRC government.
Despite the application of several mitigating conditions, the applicant failed to demonstrate that her relationships with her family members would not create a conflict of interest or make her vulnerable to coercion. Consequently, the security clearance was denied.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant admitted to three allegations under Guideline B, concerning foreign influence due to her family's citizenship and her travels to the PRC.
- The applicant's family members are citizens and residents of the PRC, a country known for exploiting U.S. citizens for information.
- The applicant failed to demonstrate that her relationships with her family members would not create a conflict of interest or make her vulnerable to coercion.
Conditions Referenced
- DC 7(a)raisedContact with Foreign Family Members
- DC 7(b)raisedConnections to Foreign Persons
- DC 7(i)raisedVulnerability to Exploitation While Traveling
- MC 8(a)rejectedNature of Relationships Unlikely to Create ConflictThe applicant did not credibly demonstrate that her relationships with foreign family members would not create a conflict of interest.
- MC 8(b)rejectedMinimal Loyalty to Foreign ContactsThe applicant failed to show that her loyalty to her family members in the PRC was minimal.
- MC 8(c)rejectedCasual and Infrequent ContactThe applicant's contacts with her family members were frequent and ongoing.
- MC 8(d)rejectedForeign Contacts on U.S. Government BusinessThe applicant's contacts were not related to U.S. government business.
Key Rule Quoted
“The Foreign Influence Guideline identifies the following security concern: Foreign contacts and interests may be a security concern if the individual has divided loyalties or foreign financial interests, may be manipulated or induced to help a foreign person, group, organization, or government in a way that is not in U.S. interests, or is vulnerable to pressure or coercion by any foreign interest.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedJun 14, 2007
- Answer filedJul 5, 2007Undated answer received.
- Hearing held—Applicant requested determination on the record.
- Decision dateOct 18, 2007
Cite For
- Foreign Influence Concerns Under Guideline B
- Impact of Family Ties to Foreign Nationals on Security Clearance
- Criteria for Evaluating Mitigating Conditions in Foreign Influence Cases