ISCR Case 24-02148

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 24-02148

grantedFeb 4, 2026· Hon. Benjamin R. Dorsey· hearing

Summary

This case concerns a 30-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Jordan who sought eligibility for access to classified information, with concerns raised under Guideline B (Foreign Influence). The Statement of Reasons cited several allegations, including that the applicant's father and brother-in-law are Jordanian citizens, and his mother, brother, and sister hold dual U.S. and Jordanian citizenship. Additionally, the applicant expects to inherit at least $900,000 from his father's estate in Jordan.

Disqualifying conditions under Guideline B were considered, specifically regarding immediate family members who are foreign citizens or residents, and potential foreign financial interests. However, the applicant successfully demonstrated several mitigating conditions.

The judge ultimately granted the applicant eligibility for access to classified information. This decision was based on the applicant's demonstrated estrangement from his father, which reduced the risk of foreign influence. Furthermore, the applicant had made efforts to renounce his Jordanian citizenship, indicating a strong commitment to the U.S. His financial stability and the presence of other family members in the U.S. also served to mitigate the initial concerns.

Why the Applicant Prevailed

The applicant demonstrated estrangement from his father, reducing the risk of foreign influence.
He has made efforts to renounce his Jordanian citizenship, indicating loyalty to the U.S.
The applicant's family members in the U.S. and his financial interests here mitigate concerns.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 7(a)raisedContact with Foreign Family Members
AG ¶ 7(b)raisedConnections to Foreign Persons Creating Potential Conflict of Interest
AG ¶ 7(f)raisedSubstantial Financial Interests in a Foreign Country

Mitigating

AG ¶ 8(a)appliedNature of Relationships with Foreign Persons Unlikely to Create Conflict
AG ¶ 8(b)appliedMinimal Conflict of Interest Due to Strong U.S. Ties
AG ¶ 8(f)appliedValue of Foreign Interests Unlikely to Result in Conflict

Key Rule Quoted

“The United States has a compelling interest in protecting and safeguarding classified information from any person, organization, or country that is not authorized to have access to it, regardless of whether that person, organization, or country has interests inimical to those of the United States.”
— ISCR Case No. 02-11570 at 5 (App. Bd. May 19, 2004)

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedFeb 3, 2025
Answer filedFeb 11, 2025
Hearing heldDec 15, 2025via Microsoft Teams
Decision dateFeb 4, 2026

Cite For

Mitigation of Foreign Influence Concerns Under Guideline B
Estrangement From Foreign Family Members as a Mitigating Factor
Commitment to U.S. Citizenship and Financial Interests in 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.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Relationship	Country	Response	Disqualifying (¶7)	Mitigating applied (¶8)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant’s father is a citizen and resident of Jordan.	For Applicant	Parent in Foreign Country Immediate Family	Jordan HEIGHTENED RISK	Admitted	—	(a) relationships such that a conflict between foreign and U.S. interests is unlikely (b) deep/longstanding U.S. loyalties; conflict resolves in favor of the U.S. (f) foreign interests are minimal and could not be used to influence	Claimed Severed Foreign Contact
1.b	His brother-in-law is a citizen of Jordan.	For Applicant	In Law in Foreign Country Immediate Family	Jordan HEIGHTENED RISK	Admitted	—	(a) relationships such that a conflict between foreign and U.S. interests is unlikely (b) deep/longstanding U.S. loyalties; conflict resolves in favor of the U.S. (f) foreign interests are minimal and could not be used to influence	Claimed Severed Foreign Contact
1.c	His mother, brother, and sister are citizens of the United States and Jordan.	For Applicant	Extended Family in Foreign Country Extended Family	Jordan HEIGHTENED RISK	Admitted	—	(a) relationships such that a conflict between foreign and U.S. interests is unlikely (b) deep/longstanding U.S. loyalties; conflict resolves in favor of the U.S. (f) foreign interests are minimal and could not be used to influence	Claimed Severed Foreign Contact
1.d	He expects to inherit a portion of his father’s Jordanian estate that is worth at least $900,000.	For Applicant	Unspecified Foreign Relationship Financial or Property Interest	Jordan HEIGHTENED RISK	Admitted	—	(a) relationships such that a conflict between foreign and U.S. interests is unlikely (b) deep/longstanding U.S. loyalties; conflict resolves in favor of the U.S. (f) foreign interests are minimal and could not be used to influence	Claimed Severed Foreign Contact

Allegation

Finding

Relationship

Country

Response

Disqualifying (¶7)

Mitigating applied (¶8)

Mitigation

1.a

Applicant’s father is a citizen and resident of Jordan.

For Applicant

Parent in Foreign Country

Immediate Family

Jordan

HEIGHTENED RISK

Admitted

—

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

(b) deep/longstanding U.S. loyalties; conflict resolves in favor of the U.S.

(f) foreign interests are minimal and could not be used to influence

Claimed

Severed Foreign Contact

1.b

His brother-in-law is a citizen of Jordan.

For Applicant

In Law in Foreign Country

Immediate Family

Jordan

HEIGHTENED RISK

Admitted

—

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

(b) deep/longstanding U.S. loyalties; conflict resolves in favor of the U.S.

(f) foreign interests are minimal and could not be used to influence

Claimed

Severed Foreign Contact

1.c

His mother, brother, and sister are citizens of the United States and Jordan.

For Applicant

Extended Family in Foreign Country

Extended Family

Jordan

HEIGHTENED RISK

Admitted

—

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

(b) deep/longstanding U.S. loyalties; conflict resolves in favor of the U.S.

(f) foreign interests are minimal and could not be used to influence

Claimed

Severed Foreign Contact

1.d

He expects to inherit a portion of his father’s Jordanian estate that is worth at least $900,000.

For Applicant

Unspecified Foreign Relationship

Financial or Property Interest

Jordan

HEIGHTENED RISK

Admitted

—

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

(b) deep/longstanding U.S. loyalties; conflict resolves in favor of the U.S.

(f) foreign interests are minimal and could not be used to influence

Claimed

Severed Foreign Contact

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Summary

Why the Applicant Prevailed

Conditions Referenced

Key Rule Quoted

Procedural Posture

Cite For

Full decision