Summary
The applicant, a 54-year-old junior acquisition specialist and naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Taiwan, faced security concerns under Guideline B (Foreign Influence) and Guideline C (Foreign Preference) due to her extensive family ties in Taiwan, possession of a Taiwanese passport, and voting in Taiwanese elections. The judge found that these factors created a heightened risk of foreign influence and exploitation, leading to the denial of her security clearance.
Under Guideline B (Foreign Influence) and Guideline C (Foreign Preference), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: Applicant’s parents, her two adopted children, and three siblings are resident citizens of Taiwan (1.a). Applicant has a sister who is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Taiwan, living in the U.S. with her husband—a U.S. born citizen (1.b). Applicant’s cousin is a citizen of Taiwan but resides in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) with her husband (1.c). Applicant has a Taiwanese passport that she used to enter the U.S. in 1980 and renewed it in March 2007 (1.d). Applicant voted in a Taiwanese election in 2008 at the urging of her father (1.e). Applicant owns property in Taiwan and opened a bank account there to manage expenses related to her adopted children (1.f). Applicant has a Taiwanese bank account that she uses to send money to her sister to take care of apartment expenses (1.g). Applicant has extensive travel history to Taiwan, including 14 trips in just over four years, to consult with family about her father's health and other family matters (1.h). Applicant possessed a Taiwanese passport and used it to travel to Taiwan and verify her Taiwanese citizenship after becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen (2.a). Applicant renewed her Taiwanese passport in March 2007, despite becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen in September 1993 (2.b). Applicant voted in a Taiwanese election in 2008 (2.c).
The judge denied the clearance. The government raised disqualifying conditions AG ¶ 7(a), AG ¶ 10(a). The decision turned on the following: The applicant's extensive family ties in Taiwan created a heightened risk of foreign exploitation and manipulation; The applicant possessed and renewed a Taiwanese passport after becoming a U.S. citizen, indicating a preference for her country of origin; The applicant voted in a Taiwanese election, demonstrating an active exercise of her foreign citizenship.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant's extensive family ties in Taiwan created a heightened risk of foreign exploitation and manipulation.
- The applicant possessed and renewed a Taiwanese passport after becoming a U.S. citizen, indicating a preference for her country of origin.
- The applicant voted in a Taiwanese election, demonstrating an active exercise of her foreign citizenship.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 7(a)raisedForeign Influence
- AG ¶ 10(a)raisedForeign Preference
Key Rule Quoted
“The Government has a compelling interest in ensuring those entrusted with this nation’s secrets will make decisions free of concerns for the foreign country of which they may also be a citizen.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedDec 17, 2009
- Answer filed—
- Hearing heldApr 8, 2010
- Decision dateOct 29, 2010
Cite For
- Heightened Risk of Foreign Influence Due to Family Ties Under Guideline B
- Disqualifying Conditions Related to Foreign Preference Under Guideline C
- Impact of Dual Citizenship on Security Clearance Eligibility