ISCR Case 16-02150.h1

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 16-02150.h1

grantedJul 19, 2018· Hon. Michael H. Leonard· hearing

Summary

A 72-year-old linguist, a U.S. citizen since 2008 and also a Jordanian citizen, was granted a security clearance despite concerns under Guideline B (Foreign Influence) and Guideline C (Foreign Preference). The Statement of Reasons cited his family ties to Jordan, including a son, brother, and two sisters who are Jordanian citizens and residents, with his son and one sister also holding U.S. citizenship. Additionally, his daughter-in-law is employed by the Jordanian military.

Further concerns included the applicant's ownership of residential real estate in Jordan, valued at approximately $70,000, and his receipt of a Jordanian social security-like retirement benefit. He also possessed a valid Jordanian passport. These factors raised questions about potential foreign influence and preference.

However, the judge determined that these concerns were mitigated. The applicant demonstrated strong family ties within the United States, including U.S. citizen children. His financial interests in Jordan were deemed routine and unlikely to lead to undue foreign influence. Crucially, his extensive employment history supporting U.S. interests abroad indicated his reliability and trustworthiness, ultimately outweighing any potential risks from his connections to Jordan. The clearance was granted.

Why the Applicant Prevailed

The applicant demonstrated strong family ties to the United States, including U.S. citizen children.
The applicant's financial interests in Jordan were routine and unlikely to result in undue foreign influence.
The applicant's long employment history supporting U.S. interests indicated reliability and trustworthiness.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 7(a)raisedContact with Foreign Family Members
AG ¶ 7(b)raisedConnections 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
AG ¶ 8(b)appliedNo Conflict of Interest Due to Minimal Allegiance
AG ¶ 8(f)appliedValue of Foreign Interests Unlikely to Result in Conflict

Key Rule Quoted

“The overall concern is: Foreign contacts and interests, including, but not limited to, business, financial, and property interests, are a national security concern if they result in divided allegiance.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedOct 25, 2016
Answer filedNov 30, 2016Applicant initially responded without counsel.
Hearing heldJul 11, 2017
Decision dateJul 19, 2018

Cite For

Mitigation of Foreign Influence Under Guideline B
Consideration of Family Ties in Security Clearance Cases
Impact of Long-term Employment Supporting U.S. Interests on Clearance Decisions

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	Applicant has family ties to Jordan, including a son, brother, and two sisters, all of whom are citizens of and residents in Jordan.	For Applicant	Sibling 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	(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.	Credited Deep U.S. Ties
2.b	Applicant's son and a sister are dual citizens of the United States and Jordan and reside in Jordan.	For Applicant	Sibling 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	(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.	Credited Deep U.S. Ties
2.c	Applicant's daughter-in-law is employed by the Jordanian military.	For Applicant	Unspecified Foreign Relationship Immediate Family GOVT-AFFILIATED	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	(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.	Credited Deep U.S. Ties
2.d	Applicant owns residential real estate in Jordan, valued at about US $70,000.	For Applicant	Foreign Real Estate Financial or Property Interest	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 (f) substantial foreign business, financial, or property interests	(f) foreign interests are minimal and could not be used to influence	Claimed Foreign Assets Divested
2.e	Applicant receives a retirement benefit from his former employer in Jordan, which is a form of social security.	For Applicant	Foreign Bank Account or Investment Financial or Property Interest	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 (f) substantial foreign business, financial, or property interests	(f) foreign interests are minimal and could not be used to influence	Claimed Foreign Assets Divested

Allegation

Finding

Relationship

Country

Response

Disqualifying (¶7)

Mitigating applied (¶8)

Mitigation

2.a

Applicant has family ties to Jordan, including a son, brother, and two sisters, all of whom are citizens of and residents in Jordan.

For Applicant

Sibling 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

(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.

Credited

Deep U.S. Ties

2.b

Applicant's son and a sister are dual citizens of the United States and Jordan and reside in Jordan.

For Applicant

Sibling 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

(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.

Credited

Deep U.S. Ties

2.c

Applicant's daughter-in-law is employed by the Jordanian military.

For Applicant

Unspecified Foreign Relationship

Immediate Family

GOVT-AFFILIATED

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

(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.

Credited

Deep U.S. Ties

2.d

Applicant owns residential real estate in Jordan, valued at about US $70,000.

For Applicant

Foreign Real Estate

Financial or Property Interest

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

(f) substantial foreign business, financial, or property interests

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

Claimed

Foreign Assets Divested

2.e

Applicant receives a retirement benefit from his former employer in Jordan, which is a form of social security.

For Applicant

Foreign Bank Account or Investment

Financial or Property Interest

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

(f) substantial foreign business, financial, or property interests

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

Claimed

Foreign Assets Divested

¶	Allegation	Finding	Type	Response	Disqualifying (¶10)	Mitigating applied (¶11)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant possesses a valid Jordanian passport.	For Applicant	Foreign Passport Possession or Use	Admitted	—	—	—

Allegation

Finding

Type

Response

Disqualifying (¶10)

Mitigating applied (¶11)

Mitigation

1.a

Applicant possesses a valid Jordanian passport.

For Applicant

Foreign Passport Possession or Use

Admitted

—

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Case Profile

Summary

Why the Applicant Prevailed

Conditions Referenced

Key Rule Quoted

Procedural Posture

Cite For

Full decision

DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS

HEARING

APPEARANCES

STATEMENT OF CASE

PROCEDURAL MATTERS

DISCUSSION

FORMAL FINDINGS

CONCLUSION

FOOTNOTES