ISCR Case 23-01019

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 23-01019

grantedAug 29, 2024· Hon. LeRoy F. Foreman· hearing

Summary

A 29-year-old U.S. citizen and analytics associate manager was granted a security clearance despite initial concerns under Guideline B (Foreign Influence) due to family connections in Israel. The allegations included that her mother is a dual U.S. and Israeli citizen, born in Israel, who resides in the U.S. and periodically visits family there. An allegation regarding her brother, also a dual U.S. and Israeli citizen, was withdrawn.

Further concerns involved several Israeli citizen and resident cousins and an aunt, all of whom previously served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). One cousin, a nature reserve ranger assistant from 1999-2001, is now an occupational therapist, and her husband is a pediatrician. Another cousin, an IDF teacher from 1972-74, is a retired teacher and headmaster, and her husband is a retired financial and tax adviser. A third cousin, who served in the IDF, operated a convenience store. The applicant's aunt, who served as an IDF educator, is currently a lieutenant in the IDF.

Despite admitting to the allegations, the applicant successfully argued that her strong ties to the U.S. and the nature of her family relationships mitigated any security risks. The decision to grant the clearance was based on her demonstrated strong ties to the U.S. through family and professional relationships, the assessment that her family connections in Israel did not pose a heightened risk of foreign influence, and character witness testimony supporting her loyalty to the U.S.

Why the Applicant Prevailed

The applicant demonstrated strong ties to the U.S. through her family and professional relationships.
The nature of the applicant's family connections in Israel did not present a heightened risk of foreign influence or coercion.
The applicant's loyalty to the U.S. was supported by multiple character witnesses.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 7(a)raisedContact with Foreign Family Members
AG ¶ 7(b)raisedConnections Creating Potential Conflict of Interest

Mitigating

AG ¶ 8(a)appliedNature of Relationships Unlikely to Create Conflict
AG ¶ 8(b)appliedMinimal Conflict of Interest Due to Strong U.S. Ties

Key Rule Quoted

“Eligibility for a security clearance is predicated upon the applicant meeting the criteria contained in the adjudicative guidelines.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedMay 16, 2023
Answer filedAug 7, 2023
Hearing heldJul 16, 2024conducted by video teleconference
Decision dateAug 29, 2024

Cite For

Mitigation of Foreign Influence Concerns Under Guideline B
Importance of Strong U.S. Ties in Security Clearance Cases
Evaluation of Family Connections in Security Clearance Determinations

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

¶	Allegation	Finding	Relationship	Country	Response	Disqualifying (¶7)	Mitigating applied (¶8)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant’s mother is a dual citizen of the United States and Israel and currently resides in the United States. Applicant’s mother was born in Israel and came to the United States in 1987. She and her husband met and were married in the United States. She is employed by a state government. (Tr. 29) She periodically visits family in Israel, but she does not provide financial support to any of them	For Applicant	Spouse Dual or Foreign Citizen Immediate Family	Israel HEIGHTENED RISK	Admitted	(a) contact with a foreign family member/associate/friend creating a heightened risk of exploitation (b) connections creating a potential conflict of interest	(a) relationships such that a conflict between foreign and U.S. interests is unlikely	Credited Deep U.S. Ties
1.b	Applicant’s brother is a dual citizen of the United States and Israel and currently resides in the United States. This allegation was withdrawn by Department Counsel.	Withdrawn	Unspecified Foreign Relationship Immediate Family	—	Unknown	—	—	—
1.c	Applicant’s cousin and her husband are citizens and residents of Israel, and both previously served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Applicant’s second cousin once removed completed her mandatory military service as a nature reserve ranger assistant from 1999-2001. She is currently a licensed occupational therapist working with children with special needs in an institution operating under the Israeli Ministry of Education. (AX E; AX F) Her husband is a pediatrician and specialist in pediatric infectious diseases, working in a medical center in Jerusalem. (AX F) She and her husband lived in the United States for about four years while her husband worked in a U.S. medical center. Applicant visited them periodically while they lived in the United States.	For Applicant	Extended Family in Foreign Country Extended Family	Israel HEIGHTENED RISK	Admitted	(a) contact with a foreign family member/associate/friend creating a heightened risk of exploitation (b) connections creating a potential conflict of interest	(a) relationships such that a conflict between foreign and U.S. interests is unlikely	Credited Deep U.S. Ties
1.d	Applicant’s cousin and her husband are citizens and residents of Israel, and both previously served in the IDF. Applicant’s second cousin resides in Israel and completed her service in the IDF as a teacher from 1972-74. She is now a retired teacher and school headmaster. (AX G) Her husband completed his mandatory military service as an artillery team commander from 1970-1973. He is a retired financial and tax adviser. (AX H)	For Applicant	Extended Family in Foreign Country Extended Family	Israel HEIGHTENED RISK	Admitted	(a) contact with a foreign family member/associate/friend creating a heightened risk of exploitation (b) connections creating a potential conflict of interest	(a) relationships such that a conflict between foreign and U.S. interests is unlikely	Credited Deep U.S. Ties
1.e	Applicant’s cousin and her husband are citizens and residents of Israel, and both previously served in the IDF. (AX I) Applicant’s cousin completed her mandatory service in the IDF on dates not reflected in the record and then operated a small convenience store until she retired. Her husband is deceased. (AX I)	For Applicant	Extended Family in Foreign Country Extended Family	Israel HEIGHTENED RISK	Admitted	(a) contact with a foreign family member/associate/friend creating a heightened risk of exploitation (b) connections creating a potential conflict of interest	(a) relationships such that a conflict between foreign and U.S. interests is unlikely	Credited Deep U.S. Ties
1.f	Applicant’s aunt is a citizen and resident of Israel and previously served in the IDF. Applicant’s aunt completed her mandatory military service and then continued her military service as an educator. She is currently serving as a lieutenant in the IDF. Her husband completed his mandatory service in the IDF on dates not reflected in the record. (AX J)	For Applicant	Extended Family in Foreign Country Extended Family GOVT-AFFILIATED	Israel HEIGHTENED RISK	Admitted	(a) contact with a foreign family member/associate/friend creating a heightened risk of exploitation (b) connections creating a potential conflict of interest	(a) relationships such that a conflict between foreign and U.S. interests is unlikely	Credited Deep U.S. Ties

Allegation

Finding

Relationship

Country

Response

Disqualifying (¶7)

Mitigating applied (¶8)

Mitigation

1.a

Applicant’s mother is a dual citizen of the United States and Israel and currently resides in the United States. Applicant’s mother was born in Israel and came to the United States in 1987. She and her husband met and were married in the United States. She is employed by a state government. (Tr. 29) She periodically visits family in Israel, but she does not provide financial support to any of them

For Applicant

Spouse Dual or Foreign Citizen

Immediate Family

Israel

HEIGHTENED RISK

Admitted

(a) contact with a foreign family member/associate/friend creating a heightened risk of exploitation

(b) connections creating a potential conflict of interest

(a) relationships such that a conflict between foreign and U.S. interests is unlikely

Credited

Deep U.S. Ties

1.b

Applicant’s brother is a dual citizen of the United States and Israel and currently resides in the United States. This allegation was withdrawn by Department Counsel.

Withdrawn

Unspecified Foreign Relationship

Immediate Family

—

Unknown

—

1.c

Applicant’s cousin and her husband are citizens and residents of Israel, and both previously served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Applicant’s second cousin once removed completed her mandatory military service as a nature reserve ranger assistant from 1999-2001. She is currently a licensed occupational therapist working with children with special needs in an institution operating under the Israeli Ministry of Education. (AX E; AX F) Her husband is a pediatrician and specialist in pediatric infectious diseases, working in a medical center in Jerusalem. (AX F) She and her husband lived in the United States for about four years while her husband worked in a U.S. medical center. Applicant visited them periodically while they lived in the United States.

For Applicant

Extended Family in Foreign Country

Extended Family

Israel

HEIGHTENED RISK

Admitted

(a) contact with a foreign family member/associate/friend creating a heightened risk of exploitation

(b) connections creating a potential conflict of interest

(a) relationships such that a conflict between foreign and U.S. interests is unlikely

Credited

Deep U.S. Ties

1.d

Applicant’s cousin and her husband are citizens and residents of Israel, and both previously served in the IDF. Applicant’s second cousin resides in Israel and completed her service in the IDF as a teacher from 1972-74. She is now a retired teacher and school headmaster. (AX G) Her husband completed his mandatory military service as an artillery team commander from 1970-1973. He is a retired financial and tax adviser. (AX H)

For Applicant

Extended Family in Foreign Country

Extended Family

Israel

HEIGHTENED RISK

Admitted

(a) contact with a foreign family member/associate/friend creating a heightened risk of exploitation

(b) connections creating a potential conflict of interest

(a) relationships such that a conflict between foreign and U.S. interests is unlikely

Credited

Deep U.S. Ties

1.e

Applicant’s cousin and her husband are citizens and residents of Israel, and both previously served in the IDF. (AX I) Applicant’s cousin completed her mandatory service in the IDF on dates not reflected in the record and then operated a small convenience store until she retired. Her husband is deceased. (AX I)

For Applicant

Extended Family in Foreign Country

Extended Family

Israel

HEIGHTENED RISK

Admitted

(a) contact with a foreign family member/associate/friend creating a heightened risk of exploitation

(b) connections creating a potential conflict of interest

(a) relationships such that a conflict between foreign and U.S. interests is unlikely

Credited

Deep U.S. Ties

1.f

Applicant’s aunt is a citizen and resident of Israel and previously served in the IDF. Applicant’s aunt completed her mandatory military service and then continued her military service as an educator. She is currently serving as a lieutenant in the IDF. Her husband completed his mandatory service in the IDF on dates not reflected in the record. (AX J)

For Applicant

Extended Family in Foreign Country

Extended Family

GOVT-AFFILIATED

Israel

HEIGHTENED RISK

Admitted

(a) contact with a foreign family member/associate/friend creating a heightened risk of exploitation

(b) connections creating a potential conflict of interest

(a) relationships such that a conflict between foreign and U.S. interests is unlikely

Credited

Deep U.S. Ties

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Summary

Why the Applicant Prevailed

Conditions Referenced

Key Rule Quoted

Procedural Posture

Cite For

Full decision