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ISCR Case 23-00164 — CASE

Case record

ISCR Case 23-00164

A decided public DOHA case, shown for research — not advice or a prediction.

Case Profile
Decision Date8/28/2023
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Darlene Lokey Anderson
Government Counsel: Andrew H. Henderson
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 43-year-old Senior Principal Antenna Engineer who sought a security clearance from the Department of Defense. The Statement of Reasons (SOR) raised security concerns under Guideline B, citing the applicant's dual citizenship with Iran and the presence of close family members residing there, which could potentially create divided allegiance and susceptibility to foreign influence.
The applicant admitted to all allegations in the SOR, including his dual citizenship and the fact that his immediate family members, including parents and siblings, lived in Iran. He testified that he had traveled to Iran frequently and intended to continue doing so, using his Iranian passport. While he claimed that he did not discuss his work with family members in Iran, he did not provide any additional documentation or evidence to support his claims or mitigate the concerns raised, despite being given the opportunity to do so after the hearing.
The administrative judge ruled against the applicant, concluding that the potential risks associated with his foreign contacts and dual citizenship outweighed any mitigating factors. The judge emphasized the importance of national security and the need for a clear and unequivocal allegiance to the United States, noting that the applicant's connections to Iran posed a significant risk of foreign influence and exploitation.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline BForeign Influence · Against Applicant
- Guideline FFinancial Considerations · Against Applicant
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Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 23-00164

deniedAug 28, 2023· Hon. Darlene Lokey Anderson· hearing

Summary

A 43-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, originally from Iran, was denied a security clearance primarily under Guideline B (Foreign Influence). The denial stemmed from the applicant's close family ties in Iran, specifically his parents and sister, who are citizens and residents there. The applicant admitted to maintaining a very close relationship with these family members and traveling to Iran regularly.

Further concerns arose from the applicant's continued use of an Iranian passport and his stated intention to vote in Iranian elections, which the judge viewed as indicative of divided allegiance. These factors, combined with the applicant's failure to provide any supporting documentation to mitigate the foreign influence concerns, led to the denial.

The decision cited disqualifying conditions under Guideline B, paragraphs 7(a) and 7(b), related to foreign connections and divided loyalties. While mitigating conditions under paragraphs 8(a), 8(b), and 8(c) were considered, they were ultimately insufficient to overcome the security risks identified.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant admitted to having close family ties in Iran, which raised security concerns under Guideline B.
The applicant maintained an Iranian passport and expressed intentions to vote in Iranian elections, indicating divided allegiance.
The applicant failed to provide any supporting documentation to mitigate the concerns raised by his foreign ties.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 7(a)raisedForeign Contacts and Interests
AG ¶ 7(b)raisedConnections to a Foreign Government

Mitigating

AG ¶ 8(a)rejectedNature of Relationships with Foreign PersonsThe applicant's close ties to family in Iran were deemed a significant risk.
AG ¶ 8(b)rejectedMinimal Conflict of InterestThe applicant's allegiance to Iran was considered substantial.
AG ¶ 8(c)rejectedCasual and Infrequent ContactThe applicant's regular travel to Iran and close family relationships were not casual.

Key Rule Quoted

“Any doubt concerning personnel being considered for national security eligibility will be resolved in favor of national security.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedMar 17, 2023
Answer filed—Date uncertain
Hearing heldJul 12, 2023and July 18, 2023
Decision dateAug 28, 2023

Cite For

Foreign Influence Concerns Under Guideline B
Impact of Dual Citizenship on Security Clearance Eligibility
Importance of Supporting Documentation in Clearance Cases

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: denied

The judge found that the applicant has close family ties in Iran, including his parents and sister, who are citizens and residents there. The applicant admitted to maintaining a close relationship with his family in Iran and traveling there regularly, which the judge determined poses a risk to national security. Consequently, the application for security clearance was denied.

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: Naturalized U.S. Citizen · U.S. Home or Property · U.S. Career or Business

¶	Allegation	Finding	Relationship	Country	Response	Disqualifying (¶7)	Mitigating applied (¶8)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant has close family ties and friends in Iran, including his mother, father, and sister, who are citizens and residents of Iran.	Against Applicant	Parent in Foreign Country Immediate Family	Iran HEIGHTENED RISK	Admitted	(a) contact with a foreign family member/associate/friend creating a heightened risk of exploitation	—	Claimed Other
1.b	Applicant maintains a very close relationship with his family in Iran and travels there regularly, which poses a risk to national security.	Against Applicant	Parent in Foreign Country Immediate Family	Iran HEIGHTENED RISK	Admitted	(a) contact with a foreign family member/associate/friend creating a heightened risk of exploitation	—	Claimed Other

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

Full decision

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