Summary
The applicant, a 40-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Iraq, sought a security clearance under Guideline B due to concerns about foreign influence stemming from his family ties in Iraq. Despite his loyalty to the U.S. and long-term residence, the judge found that the applicant's connections to family members who are government officials in Iraq posed an unacceptable risk of coercion, leading to the denial of his security clearance.
Under Guideline B (Foreign Influence), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: Applicant’s mother is a citizen of Iraq and resides in the United Kingdom (1.a). Applicant’s father is a citizen and resident of Iraq (1.b). Applicant’s two brothers are Iraqi citizens residing in the United States (1.c). Applicant’s sister is an Iraqi citizen living in the Czech Republic (1.d). Applicant’s father-in-law is an Iraqi citizen living in Iraq and working as an Iraqi government official (1.e). One of Applicant’s four sisters-in-law is an Iraqi citizen who works as an Iraqi government official assigned to the Iraqi Embassy in the United States (1.f). One of Applicant’s brothers-in-law is an Iraqi citizen living in Iraq and serving as an officer in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior (1.g). Another brother-in-law is an Iraqi citizen living in Iraq and serving as a non-commissioned officer in an Iraqi counterterrorism unit (1.h). Applicant’s friend is a citizen of Yemen and is the Yemeni ambassador to the United States (1.i). Applicant’s cousin is an Iraqi citizen living in Oman, and that he once was an Iraqi Army chief executive officer (1.j). Applicant has three other sisters-in-law who are Iraqi citizens living in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and the Netherlands (1.k).
The judge denied the clearance. The government raised disqualifying conditions AG ¶ 6, AG ¶ 7(a), AG ¶ 7(e). The decision turned on the following: The applicant's ties to family members in Iraq, including government officials, raised significant security concerns; The potential for coercion and pressure from the applicant's in-laws in Iraq was deemed too high to mitigate the security risks.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant's ties to family members in Iraq, including government officials, raised significant security concerns.
- The potential for coercion and pressure from the applicant's in-laws in Iraq was deemed too high to mitigate the security risks.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 6raisedForeign Influence
- AG ¶ 7(a)appliedContact with Foreign Family Members
- AG ¶ 7(e)appliedShared Living Quarters with Foreign Persons
Key Rule Quoted
“The presence or absence of a disqualifying or mitigating condition is not determinative of a conclusion for or against an applicant.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedAug 12, 2019
- Answer filed—
- Hearing heldAug 10, 2021via web-based video conferencing
- Decision dateNov 8, 2021
Cite For
- Security Concerns Regarding Foreign Influence Under Guideline B
- Impact of Family Ties to Foreign Government Officials on Security Clearance Decisions
- The Necessity of Resolving Doubts in Favor of National Security Interests