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ISCR Case 20-01537 — CASE

ISCR Case 20-01537granted

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 20-01537

grantedOct 20, 2021· Hon. Edward W. Loughran· hearing

Summary

This case concerns a U.S. citizen applicant with family ties to Iran, whose eligibility for a security clearance was reviewed under Guideline B (Foreign Influence). The Statement of Reasons raised concerns that the applicant had family, friends, and associates who were Iranian citizens, and that she had sponsored her father’s friend and his wife for immigration to the United States. These allegations invoked Disqualifying Conditions AG ¶ 7(a), AG ¶ 7(b), and AG ¶ 7(e).

However, the applicant successfully mitigated these concerns, leading to the application of Mitigating Conditions AG ¶ 8(a) and AG ¶ 8(b). The judge found that the applicant demonstrated strong allegiance to the United States and a lack of conflict of interest. Her credible testimony, coupled with the successful integration of her U.S.-based family members, significantly reduced potential foreign influence risks.

The applicant also credibly expressed her intention to report any coercive attempts related to her family in Iran. Ultimately, the judge determined that her strong allegiance and significant U.S. relationships outweighed the potential risks from her Iranian family ties, and the applicant was GRANTED eligibility for access to classified information.

Why the Applicant Prevailed

The applicant demonstrated strong allegiance to the United States and a lack of conflict of interest.
The applicant's family members in the U.S. and their successful integration mitigated concerns about foreign influence.
The applicant credibly expressed her intention to report any coercive attempts related to her family in Iran.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 7(a)raisedContact with Foreign Family Members
AG ¶ 7(b)raisedPotential Conflict of Interest
AG ¶ 7(e)raisedShared Living Quarters with Foreign Persons

Mitigating

AG ¶ 8(a)appliedNature of Relationships with Foreign Persons
AG ¶ 8(b)appliedNo Conflict of Interest Due to Strong U.S. Ties

Key Rule Quoted

“The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedApr 5, 2021
Answer filedMay 21, 2021
Hearing heldOct 4, 2021
Decision dateOct 20, 2021

Cite For

Mitigation of Foreign Influence Concerns Under Guideline B
Importance of U.S. Ties in Evaluating Foreign Contacts
Credibility of Applicant's Testimony Regarding Allegiance to the U.S.

Editorial summary generated for research. Not legal advice; not a prediction. Verify against the full decision before relying on any quoted language.

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline B (Foreign Influence) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: granted

The judge found that the applicant has family members and friends who are citizens of Iran, but concluded that these ties do not pose a significant risk of foreign influence or exploitation. The applicant's deep and long-standing relationships in the United States were credited as mitigating factors, leading to a decision in favor of the applicant.

Country conditions:the decision took administrative notice of official facts about the foreign country (the Government’s country submission).

U.S. ties the decision noted: U.S. Career or Business · Intent to Remain in U.S.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Relationship	Country	Response	Disqualifying (¶7)	Mitigating applied (¶8)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant has family members, friends, and associates who are citizens of Iran.	For Applicant	Extended Family in Foreign Country Extended Family	Iran HEIGHTENED RISK	Denied	—	(a) relationships such that a conflict between foreign and U.S. interests is unlikely	Credited Deep U.S. Ties
1.b	Applicant sponsored her father’s friend and his wife for immigration to the United States.	For Applicant	Unspecified Foreign Relationship Other	Iran HEIGHTENED RISK	Denied	—	(a) relationships such that a conflict between foreign and U.S. interests is unlikely	Credited Deep U.S. Ties

Descriptive standardized rendering of a decided public case (Guideline B). The verbatim source decision is shown in full below.

Full decision

The complete, official text — footnotes and signatures included — is in the original PDF.

Decision text, by section

DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS

HEARING

APPEARANCES

______________ ______________ DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS In the matter of: ) ) ) ISCR Case No. 20-01537 ) Applicant for Security Clearance ) Appearances For Government: Brian Farrell, Esq., Department Counsel For Applicant: Leon J. Schachter, Esq. 10/20/2021

STATEMENT OF CASE

LOUGHRAN, Edward W., Administrative Judge: Applicant mitigated the foreign influence security concerns. Eligibility for access to classified information is granted. Statement of the Case On April 5, 2021, the Department of Defense (DOD) issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) to Applicant detailing security concerns under Guideline B, foreign influence. Applicant responded on May 21, 2021, and requested a hearing before an administrative judge. The case was assigned to me on September 28, 2021. The hearing was convened as scheduled on October 4, 2021. Evidence Government Exhibit (GE) 1 was admitted in evidence without objection. The objection to GE 2 was overruled, and it was admitted in evidence. Applicant testified and submitted Applicant’s Exhibits (AE) A through Q, which were admitted without objection.

Department Counsel requested that I take administrative notice of certain facts about Iran and Russia. Applicant did not object, and I have taken administrative notice of the facts contained in Hearing Exhibits (HE) I and II. The facts are summarized in the written requests and will not be repeated verbatim in this decision. Of particular note is that the U.S. Government has designated Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism. It conducts cyber espionage and attacks and more traditional espionage against U.S. interests and allies. It has a dismal human rights record. Russia is one of the most serious intelligence threats to U.S. interests. It conducted extensive espionage and other actions against the United States and other countries. It also has human rights problems, and it has been victimized by terrorism.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Applicant is an employee of a defense contractor, where she has worked since 2011. She is applying for a security clearance for the first time. She has a bachelor’s degree from an Iranian university and a master’s degree from a U.S. university, which he earned in 2016. She is married without children. (Transcript (Tr.) at 25, 32, 62; GE 1, 2; AE B, C)

Applicant’s father was [REDACTED] in Iran. Her mother [REDACTED]. Her father served in the Iranian military until he retired as a senior officer more than 30 years ago. He receives a small retirement payment, but it is deposited to an account in Iran that he cannot access. Applicant was born in the United States while her father was here on assignment. As such, she is a natural-born U.S. citizen. Applicant returned to Iran with her parents after her father’s assignment was completed. (Tr. at 26-28, 42, 58- 66; Applicant’s response to SOR; GE 1, 2; AE C, J, K) Applicant spent part of her youth in Iran and part in other countries, where her father was assigned or where he worked after he retired. She moved to the United States permanently about 18 years ago. Her parents and two siblings also immigrated to the United States and became U.S. citizens. Her siblings are highly educated, with prestigious jobs. Applicant has more than 30 family members on her father’s side of the family, and all but one emigrated from Iran. Many of them were granted asylum in the United States. All of the individuals in this decision who became U.S. citizens or citizens of other countries continue to be recognized by Iran as Iranian citizens. (Tr. at 28-32, 39-46, 60-61; Applicant’s response to SOR; GE 1, 2; AE C, J-N) Applicant’s husband, his siblings, and his parents are from Iran. They are [REDACTED] as Applicant and her family. Her husband and her in-laws are U.S. citizens. Her husband is a professional. Applicant and her husband have millions of dollars of assets in the United States, and none in Iran. (Tr. at 26, 35-39, 45, 69, 85; Applicant’s response to SOR; GE 1, 2; AE C, E, F, I, O, P)

Applicant’s two aunts, an uncle, and a cousin are citizens and residents of Iran. Her aunts and uncles are on her mother’s side of the family. Her cousin is the only remaining family member from her father’s side who is still in Iran. Applicant is not close to her cousin or her mother’s side of the family. She has a friend from her youth who is

an Iranian citizen. He was a resident of Iran, but he moved to the United Arab Emirates. She has not seen her friend since he visited the United States about ten years ago. She has electronic contact with him a few times a year. (Tr. at 32, 46-48, 67-69, 76-78, 82- 83; Applicant’s response to SOR; GE 1, 2) One of Applicant’s cousins and her cousin’s husband are dual citizens of the United Kingdom and Iran (SOR ¶¶ 1.jand 1.k). Applicant has a friend who is a dual citizen of Australia and Iran (SOR ¶ 1.m). (Tr. at 47-49; Applicant’s response to SOR; GE 1, 2) Applicant erred on the side of caution when she reported her foreign contacts on her Questionnaire for National Security Positions (SF 86). She reported an Iranian citizen and resident who was her tutor in Iran in 2003. Applicant has minimal contact with him, usually on holidays, but she has not seen him since the last time she was in Iran more than 15 years ago. One of Applicant’s cousins moved to Russia from the United States for a business opportunity. Applicant visited Russia in about 2015. While she was there she stopped and visited her cousin. Applicant has had minimal contact with her cousin before and after the trip to Russia. Applicant reported her tour guides from her Russia trip on her SF 86. She maintained some contact with them via electronic media after the trip, but she has not had any contact with them in about four years. (Tr. at 48-51, 71-75; Applicant’s response to SOR; GE 1, 2) Applicant sponsored her father’s friend and his wife for immigration to the United States. Her father’s friend also retired from the Iranian military as a senior officer. Applicant sponsored them primarily as a favor to their daughter, who was in the United States, but did not have the finances to sign an affidavit of support guaranteeing their financial support in the United States. The wife is living in the United States as a permanent resident. The father is still in Iran waiting for approval of his immigration petition. Applicant is not close to the father or the mother. (Tr. at 51-56, 78-82; Applicant’s response to SOR; GE 1, 2) Applicant expressed disdain for the Iranian government, and she has no intention to ever return to Iran. Those sentiments are shared by her husband, parents, siblings, in-laws, and other members of her family. She expressed her allegiance to the United States, which she considers her home. She credibly testified that she would report any attempt to use her family in Iran to coerce or intimidate her into revealing classified information. (Tr. at 85-88; Applicant’s response to SOR; AE I-K, M-P) Applicant submitted documents and letters attesting to her excellent job performance and strong moral character. She is praised for her trustworthiness, determination, strong will, honesty, integrity, and loyalty to the United States. (AE A, D)

POLICIES

This case is adjudicated under Executive Order (EO) 10865, Safeguarding Classified Information within Industry (February 20, 1960), as amended; DOD Directive 5220.6, Defense Industrial Personnel Security Clearance Review Program (January 2,

1992), as amended (Directive); and the adjudicative guidelines (AG), which became effective on June 8, 2017. When evaluating an applicant’s suitability for a security clearance, the administrative judge must consider the adjudicative guidelines. In addition to brief introductory explanations for each guideline, the adjudicative guidelines list potentially disqualifying conditions and mitigating conditions, which are to be used in evaluating an applicant’s eligibility for access to classified information. These guidelines are not inflexible rules of law. Instead, recognizing the complexities of human behavior, administrative judges apply the guidelines in conjunction with the factors listed in the adjudicative process. The administrative judge’s overarching adjudicative goal is a fair, impartial, and commonsense decision. According to AG ¶ 2(c), the entire process is a conscientious scrutiny of a number of variables known as the “whole-person concept.” The administrative judge must consider all available, reliable information about the person, past and present, favorable and unfavorable, in making a decision. The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration. AG ¶ 2(b) requires that “[a]ny doubt concerning personnel being considered for national security eligibility will be resolved in favor of the national security.” Under Directive ¶ E3.1.14, the Government must present evidence to establish controverted facts alleged in the SOR. Under Directive ¶ E3.1.15, the applicant is responsible for presenting “witnesses and other evidence to rebut, explain, extenuate, or mitigate facts admitted by the applicant or proven by Department Counsel.” The applicant has the ultimate burden of persuasion to obtain a favorable security decision. A person who seeks access to classified information enters into a fiduciary relationship with the Government predicated upon trust and confidence. This relationship transcends normal duty hours and endures throughout off-duty hours. The Government reposes a high degree of trust and confidence in individuals to whom it grants access to classified information. Decisions include, by necessity, consideration of the possible risk the applicant may deliberately or inadvertently fail to safeguard classified information. Such decisions entail a certain degree of legally permissible extrapolation of potential, rather than actual, risk of compromise of classified information. Section 7 of EO 10865 provides that adverse decisions shall be “in terms of the national interest and shall in no sense be a determination as to the loyalty of the applicant concerned.” See also EO 12968, Section 3.1(b) (listing multiple prerequisites for access to classified or sensitive information).

ANALYSIS

Guideline B, Foreign Influence The security concern for foreign influence is set out in AG ¶ 6: Foreign contacts and interests, including, but not limited to, business, financial, and property interests, are a national security concern if they result in divided allegiance. They may also be a national security concern if they create circumstances in which the individual may be manipulated or induced to help a foreign person, group, organization, or government in a way inconsistent with U.S. interests or otherwise made vulnerable to pressure or coercion by any foreign interest. Assessment of foreign contacts and interests should consider the country in which the foreign contact or interest is located, including, but not limited to, considerations such as whether it is known to target U.S. citizens to obtain classified or sensitive information or is associated with a risk of terrorism. The guideline notes several conditions that could raise security concerns under AG ¶ 7. The following are potentially applicable in this case: (a) contact, regardless of method, with a foreign family member, business or professional associate, friend, or other person who is a citizen of or resident in a foreign country if that contact creates a heightened risk of foreign exploitation, inducement, manipulation, pressure, or coercion; (b) connections to a foreign person, group, government, or country that create a potential conflict of interest between the individual's obligation to protect classified or sensitive information or technology and the individual’s desire to help a foreign person, group, or country by providing that information or technology; and (e) shared living quarters with a person or persons, regardless of citizenship status, if that relationship creates a heightened risk of foreign inducement, manipulation, pressure, or coercion. Applicant has family members, friends, and associates who are citizens of Iran. A few of them are Iranian residents, but most of them have acquired citizenship in the United States or other countries, and Iran continues to recognize them as Iranian citizens. This is true even when the new citizens took no affirmative steps to maintain their Iranian citizenship, and in the case of the United States, swore to renounce allegiance to Iran.1 Nonetheless, they remain Iranian citizens, and if they choose to 1 See Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America at Section 337 of the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA): I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution

return to Iran for any reason, they will be treated as Iranian citizens. Iran is hostile to the United States. It is a state sponsor of terrorism; it conducts cyber espionage and attacks, and more traditional espionage against U.S. interests and allies; and it has a dismal human rights record. Applicant’s contacts with Iranian citizens create a potential conflict of interest and a heightened risk of foreign exploitation, inducement, manipulation, pressure, and coercion. AG ¶¶ 7(a), 7(b), and 7(e) have been raised by the evidence. Russia is a country that can raise significant security concerns. However, Applicant has not been in contact with the Russian tour guides in about four years. Those limited contacts do not subject her to a heightened risk of foreign influence or exploitation or personal conflict of interest. AG ¶¶ 7(a) and 7(b) are not applicable to the Russian tour guides. SOR ¶ 1.nis concluded for Applicant. The SOR alleges both that Applicant has family friends who are citizens and residents of Iran (SOR ¶¶ 1.qand 1.s), and that she sponsored those family friends into the United States (SOR ¶¶ 1.rand 1.u). I do not find that sponsoring someone to immigrate to the United States raises any security concerns independent of the citizenship and residence status of the individuals, which are already contained in other allegations. SOR ¶¶ 1.rand 1.u are concluded for Applicant. Conditions that could mitigate foreign influence security concerns are provided under AG ¶ 8. The following are potentially applicable: (a) the nature of the relationships with foreign persons, the country in which these persons are located, or the positions or activities of those persons in that country are such that it is unlikely the individual will be placed in a position of having to choose between the interests of a foreign individual, group, organization, or government and the interests of the United States; and (b) there is no conflict of interest, either because the individual’s sense of loyalty or obligation to the foreign person, or allegiance to the group, government, or country is so minimal, or the individual has such deep and longstanding relationships and loyalties in the United States, that the individual can be expected to resolve any conflict of interest in favor of the U.S. interest. Applicant is a U.S. citizen by birth, because she was born in the United States while her father was here on assignment. The process was more difficult for the rest of and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

her family. Almost all of her family fled Iran and arrived in the United States or other allied countries like the United Kingdom and Australia. She and her husband are both extremely successful with substantial U.S. assets and no Iranian assets. She credibly professed her allegiance to the United States and that she would report any attempt to use her family in Iran against her. I find that it is unlikely Applicant will be placed in a position of having to choose between the interests of the United States and the interests of the Iranian government, a terrorist organization, or her Iranian family members. I further find there is no conflict of interest, because Applicant has such deep and long-standing relationships and loyalties in America, that she can be expected to resolve any conflict of interest in favor of the United States. AG ¶ 8(a) is partially applicable. AG ¶ 8(b) is applicable.

WHOLE PERSON CONCEPT

Under the whole-person concept, the administrative judge must evaluate an applicant’s eligibility for a security clearance by considering the totality of the applicant’s conduct and all relevant circumstances. The administrative judge should consider the nine adjudicative process factors listed at AG ¶ 2(d): (1) The nature, extent, and seriousness of the conduct; (2) the circumstances surrounding the conduct, to include knowledgeable participation; (3) the frequency and recency of the conduct; (4) the individual’s age and maturity at the time of the conduct; (5) the extent to which participation is voluntary; (6) the presence or absence of rehabilitation and other permanent behavioral changes; (7) the motivation for the conduct; (8) the potential for pressure, coercion, exploitation, or duress; and (9) the likelihood of continuation or recurrence. Under AG ¶ 2(c), the ultimate determination of whether to grant eligibility for a security clearance must be an overall commonsense judgment based upon careful consideration of the guidelines and the whole-person concept. I have incorporated my comments under Guideline B in my whole-person analysis. I considered Applicant’s favorable character evidence. I also considered the totality of Applicant’s family ties to Iran, a country that is clearly hostile to the United States, and the heavy burden an applicant carries when he or she has family members in a hostile country. The nature of a nation’s government, its relationship with the United States, and its human rights record are relevant in assessing the likelihood that an applicant’s family members are vulnerable to government coercion. The risk of coercion, persuasion, or duress is significantly greater if the foreign country has an authoritarian government, a family member is associated with or dependent upon the government, the country is known to conduct intelligence operations against the United States, or the foreign country is associated with a risk of terrorism. Iran is a leading state sponsor of terrorism, conducts espionage against the United States, and has a dismal human rights record.

________________________ Almost all of Applicant’s family members are in the United States or other allied countries like the United Kingdom and Australia. Applicant is not close to the few family members remaining in Iran. Applicant was sincere, open, and candid at the hearing. In the unlikely event that her family members were subjected to coercion or duress from the Iranian government or terrorist groups, I find that because of her deep and long- standing relationships and loyalties in the United States, that Applicant would resolve any attempt to exert pressure, coercion, exploitation, or duress in favor of the United States. Overall, the record evidence leaves me without questions or doubts about Applicant’s eligibility and suitability for a security clearance. I conclude Applicant mitigated the foreign influence security concerns.

FORMAL FINDINGS

Formal findings for or against Applicant on the allegations set forth in the SOR, as required by section E3.1.25 of Enclosure 3 of the Directive, are: Paragraph 1, Guideline B: For Applicant Subparagraphs 1.a-1.u: For Applicant

CONCLUSION

It is clearly consistent with the national interest to grant Applicant eligibility for a security clearance. Eligibility for access to classified information is granted. Edward W. Loughran Administrative Judge