ISCR Case 24-01100

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 24-01100

deniedNov 13, 2025· Hon. Robert B. Blazewick· hearing

Summary

A 27-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, originally from Jordan, was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline B (Foreign Influence), Guideline C (Foreign Preference), and Guideline E (Personal Conduct). The Statement of Reasons included allegations related to the applicant's use of a Jordanian passport for U.S. entry and exit on three occasions, his expressed divided loyalties, and his close family ties to Jordanian citizens. Additionally, the applicant faced allegations concerning his failure to disclose past marijuana use and purchase on his Security Clearance Application (SCA), which he later admitted.

While mitigating conditions were applied to address concerns under Guideline C and Guideline E, the judge found insufficient evidence to alleviate the risks associated with foreign influence. The applicant's admission of using a Jordanian passport and expressing divided loyalties, combined with his close family ties in Jordan, were central to the Guideline B concerns.

Further contributing to the denial were the applicant's lack of non-relative references and an unwillingness to cooperate further, which indicated potential reliability issues. Ultimately, the security clearance was denied based on the unresolved foreign influence concerns.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant admitted to using a Jordanian passport and expressed divided loyalties, raising security concerns under Guideline B.
The applicant's close family ties to Jordan, including living with Jordanian citizens, created a heightened risk of foreign influence.
The applicant's lack of non-relative references and unwillingness to cooperate further indicated potential reliability issues.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 7(a)appliedContact with Foreign Family MembersThe applicant's family connections and the risk of terrorism in Jordan established a heightened risk.
AG ¶ 7(b)appliedConnections to a Foreign CountryThe applicant's divided loyalties and close family ties to Jordan raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
AG ¶ 7(e)appliedShared Living Quarters with Foreign NationalsLiving with family members who are Jordanian citizens heightened the risk of foreign influence.

Mitigating

AG ¶ 8(a)rejectedNature of Relationships with Foreign PersonsThe applicant's close family ties and expressed divided loyalties did not mitigate the security concerns.
AG ¶ 8(b)rejectedMinimal Conflict of InterestThe applicant's divided allegiance and lack of strong ties to the U.S. did not support a conclusion of minimal conflict.
AG ¶ 8(c)rejectedCasual Contact with Foreign CitizensThe applicant's frequent contact with his family members did not support a finding of casual or infrequent contact.

Key Rule Quoted

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

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedSep 25, 2024
Answer filedNov 27, 2024Requested decision on the written record.
Hearing held—Decision made without a hearing.
Decision dateNov 13, 2025

Cite For

Denial of Security Clearance Due to Foreign Influence Concerns
Impact of Divided Loyalties on Security Clearance Eligibility
Mitigating Conditions Under Guideline B Not Established Due to Family Ties and Foreign Connections.

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
2.a	Concerns regarding Applicant's Jordanian parents and sister.	Against Applicant	Parent in Foreign Country Immediate Family	Jordan 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 (e) shared living quarters creating a heightened risk	—	—
2.b	Cross-allegation of the Guideline C allegations.	Against Applicant	Unspecified Foreign Relationship Immediate Family	Jordan 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 (e) shared living quarters creating a heightened risk	—	—
2.c	specific text not stated in this decision	For Applicant	Unspecified Foreign Relationship Other	—	Unknown	—	—	—

Allegation

Finding

Relationship

Country

Response

Disqualifying (¶7)

Mitigating applied (¶8)

Mitigation

2.a

Concerns regarding Applicant's Jordanian parents and sister.

Against Applicant

Parent in Foreign Country

Immediate Family

Jordan

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

(e) shared living quarters creating a heightened risk

—

2.b

Cross-allegation of the Guideline C allegations.

Against Applicant

Unspecified Foreign Relationship

Immediate Family

Jordan

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

(e) shared living quarters creating a heightened risk

—

2.c

specific text not stated in this decision

For Applicant

Unspecified Foreign Relationship

Other

—

Unknown

—

¶	Allegation	Finding	Type	Response	Disqualifying (¶10)	Mitigating applied (¶11)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant's alleged past use of his Jordanian passport in lieu of his United States (U.S.) passport to enter and exit the U.S. on three occasions, as well as intended future use, and his statement that he has divided loyalties.	For Applicant	Foreign Passport Possession or Use	Admitted	—	—	—
1.b	Applicant's statement that he has divided loyalties.	For Applicant	Unspecified Foreign Preference	Admitted	—	—	—

Allegation

Finding

Type

Response

Disqualifying (¶10)

Mitigating applied (¶11)

Mitigation

1.a

Applicant's alleged past use of his Jordanian passport in lieu of his United States (U.S.) passport to enter and exit the U.S. on three occasions, as well as intended future use, and his statement that he has divided loyalties.

For Applicant

Foreign Passport Possession or Use

Admitted

—

1.b

Applicant's statement that he has divided loyalties.

For Applicant

Unspecified Foreign Preference

Admitted

—

¶	Allegation	Finding	Conduct	Concealed Issue	Response	Disqualifying (¶16)	Mitigating applied (¶17)	Mitigation
3.a	Applicant's alleged failure to disclose use and purchase of marijuana on his SCA.	For Applicant	Omission or Failure to DiscloseNOT DELIBERATESELF-CORRECTED	Other	Admitted	—	(b) omission/refusal followed advice of counsel; later cooperated fully	Credited Corrected Falsification Promptly
3.b	Applicant's admission of marijuana use and purchase.	For Applicant	Questionable Judgment General	—	Admitted	—	—	—

Allegation

Finding

Conduct

Concealed Issue

Response

Disqualifying (¶16)

Mitigating applied (¶17)

Mitigation

3.a

Applicant's alleged failure to disclose use and purchase of marijuana on his SCA.

For Applicant

Omission or Failure to DiscloseNOT DELIBERATESELF-CORRECTED

Other

Admitted

—

(b) omission/refusal followed advice of counsel; later cooperated fully

Credited

Corrected Falsification Promptly

3.b

Applicant's admission of marijuana use and purchase.

For Applicant

Questionable Judgment General

—

Admitted

—

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Summary

Why the Applicant Was Denied

Conditions Referenced

Key Rule Quoted

Procedural Posture

Cite For

Full decision