Summary
A 35-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, originally from Romania, sought a security clearance for a linguist position. Concerns were raised under Guideline B (Foreign Influence) and Guideline C (Foreign Preference) due to her familial ties in Romania and her dual citizenship. The Statement of Reasons noted that her mother, father, and brother are Romanian citizens residing in Romania, and her father is a retired Romanian Army colonel who previously served at SHAPE in Belgium. The applicant communicates with her mother daily, her father weekly, and her brother monthly.
Further allegations included her voting in the Romanian presidential election in November 2014 and maintaining a Romanian bank account, which she closed in 2015 upon returning to the U.S. Her son is a native-born U.S. citizen, fluent in both English and Romanian, who prefers the United States.
The judge ultimately GRANTED the security clearance. The decision highlighted the applicant's clear preference for the United States, her strong dedication to the country, and her willingness to renounce her Romanian citizenship. She had also severed significant ties to Romania, including closing her bank account and surrendering her Romanian passport, mitigating concerns that her familial connections would create a conflict of interest.
Why the applicant prevailed
- The applicant is a naturalized U.S. citizen who has expressed a clear preference for the United States over Romania.
- She has severed significant ties to Romania, including closing her Romanian bank account and surrendering her Romanian passport.
- The applicant's familial connections do not create a conflict of interest due to her strong dedication to the U.S.
Conditions referenced
- AG ¶ 10(a)raisedApplying for And/or Acquiring Citizenship in Any Other Country
- AG ¶ 10(b)raisedFailure to Report Possession of a Passport or Identity Card Issued by Any Country Other Than the United States
- AG ¶ 10(a)raisedContact with Foreign Family Members
- AG ¶ 11(b)appliedDual Citizenship Based Solely on Parental Citizenship or Birth in a Foreign Country, and No Evidence of Foreign Preference
- AG ¶ 8(a)appliedNature of Relationships with Foreign Persons Unlikely to Create a Conflict of Interest
- AG ¶ 8(b)appliedNo Conflict of Interest Due to Strong Ties to the U.S.
- AG ¶ 8(f)appliedValue of Foreign Business Interests Unlikely to Result in a Conflict
Key rule quoted
“The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration.”
Procedural posture
- SOR issuedJul 8, 2016
- Answer filedJul 18, 2016
- Hearing heldMar 14, 2017
- Decision dateJun 21, 2017
Cite for
- Mitigation of Foreign Preference Concerns Under Guideline C
- Evaluation of Familial Ties and Their Impact on Security Clearance Under Guideline B
- Whole-person Concept in Security Clearance Determinations