Summary
The applicant, a 62-year-old U.S. citizen and linguist for a defense contractor, faced security concerns under Guideline B due to foreign influence stemming from family ties in Iraq and Sweden. Despite these ties, the judge found that the applicant's reliability, trustworthiness, and loyalty to the U.S. outweighed the concerns, leading to a favorable decision for security clearance.
Under Guideline B (Foreign Influence), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: Applicant’s 80-year-old mother is a citizen of Iraq and currently resides in Sweden. She travels back and forth between the two nations. She is supported by Applicant’s siblings and retirement benefits in Sweden. He has two brothers and one sister who also reside in Sweden. Applicant does not provide his mother any financial support (1.a). Applicant has two sisters and one brother who are citizens and residents of Iraq. They all reside in a Kurdish city. His sisters are teachers. Applicant speaks to them once to twice per month. His brother works in a private business distributing food. Applicant has not spoken to his brother in two years (1.b). Applicant’s mother-in-law is a citizen and resident of Iraq. She is a 70-year-old housewife. Applicant provides no financial support to his mother-in-law (1.c).
The judge granted the clearance. The judge applied mitigating conditions AG ¶ 8(a), AG ¶ 8(b), AG ¶ 8(c). The decision turned on the following: The applicant demonstrated strong ties to the U.S. and a commitment to national interests; He has a long history of working for the U.S. Government and held a security clearance for ten years without incident; The applicant's family members in Iraq do not receive financial support from him, mitigating concerns about foreign influence.
Why the Applicant Prevailed
- The applicant demonstrated strong ties to the U.S. and a commitment to national interests.
- He has a long history of working for the U.S. Government and held a security clearance for ten years without incident.
- The applicant's family members in Iraq do not receive financial support from him, mitigating concerns about foreign influence.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 8(a)appliedThe Nature of the Foreign Contacts
- AG ¶ 8(b)appliedThe Applicant's Family Ties to the U.S.
- AG ¶ 8(c)appliedThe Applicant's Service to the U.S. Government
Key Rule Quoted
“I weighed the evidence as a whole and considered whether the favorable evidence outweighed the unfavorable evidence.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedApr 19, 2017
- Answer filedMay 10, 2017
- Hearing heldJul 27, 2017
- Decision dateOct 26, 2017Proposed summary disposition in favor of applicant.
Cite For
- Mitigating Conditions Under Guideline B Regarding Foreign Influence
- Consideration of the Whole-person Concept in Security Clearance Decisions
- Evidence of Reliability and Trustworthiness Outweighing Foreign Ties