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ISCR Case 15-07129.h1 — CASE

ISCR Case 15-07129.h1granted

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 15-07129.h1

grantedOct 6, 2017· Hon. Martin H. Mogul· hearing

Summary

The applicant, a U.S. citizen born in Afghanistan, faced security concerns under Guideline B due to family ties in Iraq and Sweden. The judge found that the applicant's limited contact with foreign relatives and the purpose of financial support mitigated these concerns, leading to a decision to grant the security clearance.

Under Guideline B (Foreign Influence), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: Several of Applicant’s relatives, including his son, and two sisters are citizens and residents of Iraq (1.a). He has a brother, who is a citizen of Sweden and resident of Iran (1.b). A sister, who is a citizen of Iraq residing in France (1.c). A sister who is a citizen and resident of Sweden (1.d). Between 1998 and 2003, Applicant sent approximately $2,500 to his family in Iraq (1.e).

The judge granted the clearance. The judge applied mitigating conditions AG ¶ 8(a), AG ¶ 8(b). The decision turned on the following: The applicant demonstrated limited contact with foreign relatives; The financial support sent to Iraq was for a deceased sick mother; The applicant's three sons are U.S. citizens and residents.

Why the Applicant Prevailed

The applicant demonstrated limited contact with foreign relatives.
The financial support sent to Iraq was for a deceased sick mother.
The applicant's three sons are U.S. citizens and residents.

Conditions Referenced

Mitigating

AG ¶ 8(a)appliedThe Nature of the Relationships with Foreign Persons Is Such That They Do Not Pose a Security Risk.
AG ¶ 8(b)appliedThe Applicant Has Taken Positive Steps to Mitigate the Security Concerns.

Key Rule Quoted

“The concerns over Applicant’s history of foreign influence do not create doubt about his current reliability, trustworthiness, good judgment, and ability to protect classified information.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedMay 10, 2016
Answer filedJun 4, 2016
Hearing heldAug 15, 2017
Decision dateOct 6, 2017

Cite For

Mitigating Conditions Under Guideline B Regarding Foreign Influence
Consideration of Limited Contact with Foreign Relatives
Impact of U.S. Citizen Children on Security Clearance Decisions

Editorial summary generated for research. Not legal advice; not a prediction. Verify against the full decision before relying on any quoted language.

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline B (Foreign Influence) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: Decision on RecordDecided: granted

The judge found that the applicant had several relatives in foreign countries, including Iraq and Sweden, which raised security concerns under Guideline B. However, the applicant successfully mitigated these concerns by demonstrating limited contact with his foreign relatives, the financial support sent was for a deceased family member, and he has strong ties to the U.S., including three U.S. citizen sons and home ownership. The case was decided in favor of the applicant.

U.S. ties the decision noted: Naturalized U.S. Citizen · U.S. Children · U.S. Home or Property

¶	Allegation	Finding	Relationship	Country	Response	Disqualifying (¶7)	Mitigating applied (¶8)	Mitigation
1.a	Several of Applicant’s relatives, including his son, and two sisters are citizens and residents of Iraq.	Against Applicant	Parent in Foreign Country Immediate Family	Iraq	Denied	—	(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.	—
1.b	He has a brother, who is a citizen of Sweden and resident of Iran.	Against Applicant	Sibling in Foreign Country Immediate Family	Sweden, Iran	Denied	—	(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.	—
1.c	A sister, who is a citizen of Iraq residing in France.	Against Applicant	Sibling in Foreign Country Immediate Family	Iraq, France	Denied	—	(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.	—
1.d	A sister who is a citizen and resident of Sweden.	Against Applicant	Sibling in Foreign Country Immediate Family	Sweden	Denied	—	(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.	—
1.e	Between 1998 and 2003, Applicant sent approximately $2,500 to his family in Iraq.	Against Applicant	Financial Support to Foreign Relative Immediate Family	Iraq	Denied	—	(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.	—

Descriptive standardized rendering of a decided public case (Guideline B). The verbatim source decision is shown in full below.

Full decision

The complete, official text — footnotes and signatures included — is in the original PDF.

Decision text, by section

DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS

HEARING

APPEARANCES

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS

In the matter of: ) ) ) ISCR Case No. 15-07129 ) ) Applicant for Security Clearance )

For Government: Andrew Henderson, Esq., Department Counsel For Applicant: Ryan C. Nerney, Esq.

October 6, 2017 ______________

STATEMENT OF CASE

______________

MOGUL, Martin H., Administrative Judge:

Statement of the Case

On May 10, 2016, in accordance with DoD Directive 5220.6, as amended (Directive), the Department of Defense issued Applicant a Statement of Reasons (SOR) alleging facts that raise security concerns under Guideline B.1 The SOR further informed Applicant that, based on information available to the government, DoD adjudicators could not make the preliminary affirmative finding it is clearly consistent with the national interest to grant or continue Applicant’s security clearance.

On June 4, 2016, Applicant submitted a written reply to the SOR, and requested that the case be decided after a hearing before an administrative judge. The case was assigned to this administrative judge on July 5, 2017. The Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) issued a notice of hearing on May 11, 2017, scheduling the

1 I considered the previous Adjudicative Guidelines, effective September 1, 2006, as well as the new hearing for August 15, 2017. The hearing was convened as scheduled. The case was assigned to me on July 5, 2017, after being initially assigned to another administrative judge.

At the hearing, the Government offered Exhibits 1 through 4, which were admitted without objection. Applicant testified on his own behalf and submitted Exhibits A through I, which were also admitted without objection. On August 17, 2017, I proposed to the parties by email that this case was appropriate for a summary disposition in Applicant’s favor. Applicant’s Counsel and Department Counsel had 10 days to consider the matter and written notice was provided that neither party objected.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Applicant was born in Afghanistan. He moved to the United States in 1997 and became a United States citizen in 2003.

The allegations concerning Guideline B were that several of Applicant’s relatives, including his son, and two sisters are citizens and residents of Iraq. It was also alleged that he has a brother, who is a citizen of Sweden and resident of Iran; a sister, who is a citizen of Iraq residing in France; and a sister who is a citizen and resident of Sweden. Finally, it was alleged that between 1998 and 2003, Applicant sent approximately $2,500 to his family in Iraq. Based on the record evidence as a whole, I conclude that Department Counsel presented sufficient evidence to establish the facts alleged in the SOR under Guideline B, with the exception that Applicant has three sons, all of whom are United States citizens and residents.

I also conclude that Applicant presented sufficient evidence to explain, extenuate, or mitigate the facts admitted by Applicant or proven by Department Counsel. I considered that Applicant has limited contact with his relatives, who are not United States citizens and residents, and that the money he sent to his family in Iraq was for his sick mother, who is now deceased. Additionally, I considered that Applicant’s three sons are United States citizens and residents, and he owns his own home in the United States, worth approximately $275,000. Finally, I considered the many mitigating documents offered into evidence on behalf of Applicant. Therefore, I conclude that the security concerns are resolved under the following mitigating conditions under Guideline B: AG ¶¶ 8(a) and 8(b).

The concerns over Applicant’s history of foreign influence do not create doubt about his current reliability, trustworthiness, good judgment, and ability to protect classified information. In reaching this conclusion, I weighed the evidence as a whole and considered whether or not the favorable evidence outweighed the unfavorable evidence. I also gave due consideration to the whole-person concept. Accordingly, I conclude that Applicant has met his ultimate burden of persuasion to show that it is clearly consistent with the national interest to grant him eligibility for access to classified information. This case is decided for Applicant.

Martin H. Mogul Administrative Judge

FOOTNOTES

Adjudicative Guidelines, effective June 8, 2017. My decision would be the same if the case was considered under the previous Adjudicative Guidelines, effective September 1, 2006.