Summary
The applicant, a 57-year-old senior systems analyst for a defense contractor and a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from the People's Republic of China (PRC), faced security clearance denial due to foreign influence concerns stemming from the PRC citizenship of his three sisters and a niece. The judge found that the applicant's familial ties to the PRC, particularly the employment of one sister with the local people's congress, raised significant security risks, leading to the denial of his clearance.
Under Guideline B (Foreign Influence), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: DOHA alleged under Guideline B, foreign influence, that Applicant’s brother (¶ 1.a) is a resident citizen of the PRC (1.a). DOHA alleged under Guideline B, foreign influence, that three sisters (¶ 1.b) are resident citizens of the PRC (1.b). DOHA alleged under Guideline B, foreign influence, that one of his sisters worked as a local government representative in the PRC (¶ 1.c) (1.c). DOHA alleged under Guideline B, foreign influence, that a niece who is a citizen of the PRC lived with him in the U.S. (¶ 1.d) (1.d). DOHA alleged under Guideline B, foreign influence, that his mother-in-law (¶ 1.e) is a resident citizen of the PRC (1.e). DOHA alleged under Guideline B, foreign influence, that Applicant was an instructor at a university in the PRC from about November 1982 to November 1989 (¶ 1.f) (1.f). DOHA alleged under Guideline B, foreign influence, that his first year of graduate study in the U.S. was financed by the Chinese university (¶ 1.g) (1.g). DOHA alleged under Guideline B, foreign influence, that Applicant and his spouse visited family members in the PRC from June 21, 1998 until July 27, 1998 (¶ 1.h) (1.h).
The judge denied the clearance. The government raised disqualifying conditions AG ¶ 7. The decision turned on the following: The applicant has three sisters and a mother-in-law who are citizens of the PRC, raising foreign influence concerns; One sister works for the local people's congress, which is considered a government position in the PRC; The applicant's niece, a PRC citizen, lived with him for several months, further establishing ties to the PRC.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant has three sisters and a mother-in-law who are citizens of the PRC, raising foreign influence concerns.
- One sister works for the local people's congress, which is considered a government position in the PRC.
- The applicant's niece, a PRC citizen, lived with him for several months, further establishing ties to the PRC.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 7raisedForeign Influence
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedJun 22, 2006
- Answer filedJul 7, 2006Initial response to SOR
- Hearing held—Applicant requested a decision based on the written record without a hearing.
- Decision dateApr 6, 2007
Cite For
- Foreign Influence Concerns Under Guideline B Due to Familial Ties in the PRC
- Impact of Foreign Relatives' Government Employment on Security Clearance Decisions
- Consideration of Foreign Influence in the Context of U.S. Citizenship and Residency Status