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ISCR Case 06-22581.a1 — CASE

ISCR Case 06-22581.a1denied

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 06-22581.a1

deniedNov 2, 2007· Hon. Jean E. Smallin· appeal

Summary

An applicant representing herself was denied a security clearance for sensitive positions under Guideline B (Foreign Influence). The denial stemmed from trustworthiness concerns related to her family ties in China and her travel history. Specifically, the applicant's family members are citizens and residents of China, and she had traveled to China for over a year, which was a significant factor in the initial decision.

The applicant appealed the denial, presenting new evidence regarding her travel dates and her family's immigration status. However, the appeal did not sufficiently mitigate the concerns raised by the adjudicator. The new evidence did not demonstrate harmful error in the initial judgment and failed to resolve the underlying trustworthiness issues.

Consequently, the denial of the security clearance was affirmed. The decision highlighted the persistent concerns regarding foreign influence due to the applicant's family connections and extensive travel to China, which were not adequately addressed by the additional information provided during the appeal process.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant's family members are citizens and residents of China, raising trustworthiness concerns.
The applicant traveled to China for over a year, which was a significant factor in the decision.
New evidence presented on appeal did not demonstrate harmful error by the Judge and did not mitigate the trustworthiness concerns.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 6(a)raisedForeign Influence
AG ¶ 6(b)raisedForeign Influence
AG ¶ 6(c)raisedForeign Influence

Key Rule Quoted

“The Appeal Board’s authority to review a case is limited to cases in which the appealing party has alleged the Judge committed harmful error.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedDec 14, 2006
Answer filed—
Hearing held—Decided on the written record.
Decision dateNov 2, 2007

Cite For

Trustworthiness Concerns Related to Family Ties Under Guideline B
Limitations on the Appeal Board's Authority to Review New Evidence
Impact of Travel History on Security Clearance Decisions

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

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

APPEAL

SYNOPSIS

KEYWORD: Guideline B DIGEST: The Judge found that Applicant’s mother, father brother and sister-in-law are citizens and residents of China Further the Judge found that Applicant had traveled to China for over a year in 2003-4. On appeal Applicant offers new evidence regarding her parents’ status and her dates of travel. Applicant requests that the Board set aside the Judge’s decision in light of the new evidence. The Board cannot grant the relief requested. Adverse decision affirmed. CASENO: 06-22581.a1 DATE: 11/02/2007 DATE: November 2, 2007 In Re: -------------- Applicant for Public Trust Position ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ADP Case No. 06-22581

APPEAL BOARD DECISION

APPEARANCES

FOR GOVERNMENT Candace Le’i, Esq. Department Counsel FOR APPLICANT Pro Se The Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) proposed to deny or revoke access to automated information systems in ADP-I/II/III sensitivity positions for Applicant. On December 14, 2006, DOHA issued a statement of reasons (SOR) advising Applicant of the basis for that People’s Republic of China. Applicant’s Answer at 1-2 (Government Exhibit 3). Decision at 3. Id at 3, n. 4; Government Exhibit 4. decision—trustworthiness concerns raised under Guideline B (Foreign Influence) of Department of Defense Directive 5220.6 (Jan. 2, 1992, as amended) (Directive). Applicant requested the case be decided on the written record. On May 22, 2007, after considering the record, Administrative Judge David M. White denied Applicant’s request for a trustworthiness designation. Applicant timely appealed pursuant to the Directive ¶¶ E3.1.28 and E3.1.30. Applicant raised the following issue on appeal: whether the Board can consider new evidence on appeal. In this case, SOR paragraphs 1.a and 1.balleged trustworthiness concerns based on the fact that Applicant’s mother, father, brother, and sister-in-law were citizens and residents of China.1 SOR paragraph 1.calleged trustworthiness concerns based on the fact that Applicant had traveled to China in 2003. Applicant admitted without explanation to all three allegations. In his decision, the Judge found that Applicant had “. . . reported and admitted that she traveled to China for pleasure from August 16, 2003 to September 7, 2004”—a period of over a year. The Judge based this finding on the dates provided by the Applicant in her Public Trust Position Application (SF-85P). On appeal, Applicant states that she mistakenly typed the wrong date on her application—2004 instead of 2003. In reality, she had only traveled to China from August 16, 2003 to September 7, 2003, a period of less than a month. In support of her statement, she attaches a copy of her Chinese Passport, showing the relevant entry and exit stamps. Applicant also states that her parents “. . . just immigrated to the US and received their green cards.” Both Applicant’s statements and her attachment are new evidence which was not considered by the Judge below. Applicant requests that the Board set aside the Judge’s adverse decision, based on this new evidence. However, her appeal brief articulates no legal basis in support of that request.

Applicant elected to have her case decided on the written record, and then declined to file a response to the government’s File of Relevant Material (FORM). Her request for relief as to the mistaken travel dates is not based on newly discovered evidence, unavailable to her prior to the Judge’s decision. Rather, it is based on evidence which was in her custody and control during the entire pendency of her case. While that evidence bears directly on the trustworthiness concern alleged in SOR paragraph 1.c, it would not substantially mitigate the trustworthiness concerns set forth in SOR paragraphs 1.a and 1.b. Moreover, a review of the Judge’s decision indicates that he questioned the accuracy of the dates at issue, suggesting that Applicant’s trip to China may actually have been of shorter duration: “The information concerning the dates of her travel to China, provided by Applicant in Gov X 4, may be in error. It appears inconsistent that she could have become a naturalized U.S. citizen in June 2004 if she was traveling in China from August 2003 through Decision at 3, n. 9. The Judge then went on to note that Applicant had provided no clarifying or corrective information in response to either the SOR or the FORM. September 2004.”5 The Appeal Board’s authority to review a case is limited to cases in which the appealing party has alleged the Judge committed harmful error. It does not review cases de novo. The Board may not consider Applicant’s new evidence on appeal. See Directive ¶ E3.1.29. Its submission does not demonstrate error on the part of the Judge. See, e.g., ADP Case No. 06-08653 at 3 (App. Bd. May 14, 2007). Accordingly, the Board cannot grant Applicant the relief she requests.

ORDER

The decision of the Judge denying Applicant access to automated information systems in ADP-I/II/III sensitivity positions is AFFIRMED. Signed: Michael D. Hipple Michael D. Hipple Administrative Judge Member, Appeal Board Signed: Jean E. Smallin Jean E. Smallin Administrative Judge Member, Appeal Board Signed: William S. Fields William S. Fields Administrative Judge Member, Appeal Board