Summary
A 39-year-old U.S. citizen, originally from Iraq and employed by a defense contractor, was granted a security clearance despite concerns under Guidelines B (Foreign Influence), C (Foreign Preference), and E (Personal Conduct). The Statement of Reasons detailed extensive family ties in Iraq, including a father who served 26 years in the Iraqi Army, a brother who is an Iraqi police officer, another brother who served in the Iraqi army and now works for an Iraqi utility ministry, and a half-brother who is an Iraqi government contractor. Additionally, several uncles and cousins work for Iraqi ministries, with two uncles holding positions as a general and a colonel in the Iraqi military.
Further concerns included the applicant's ownership of property in Iraq, financial support provided to one brother, and nine months of employment at an Iraqi university in 2014. The applicant also possessed an Iraqi identification card, raising foreign preference issues. Personal conduct concerns arose from an alleged omission of his Iraqi property ownership on his security clearance application.
The judge found that the applicant successfully mitigated these concerns. He demonstrated that his family ties in Iraq did not pose a heightened risk of foreign influence or coercion, citing his established ties to the U.S. and lack of recent contact with family in Iraq. The applicant also relinquished his Iraqi passport and had not used it since becoming a U.S. citizen. His employment and financial interests were firmly rooted in the United States, and he was candid about his background. Consequently, the security clearance was granted.
Why the applicant prevailed
- The applicant demonstrated that his family ties to Iraq do not create a heightened risk of foreign influence or coercion.
- He relinquished his Iraqi passport and has not used it since becoming a U.S. citizen.
- The applicant's employment and financial interests are firmly rooted in the United States.
Conditions referenced
- AG ¶ 6(a)raisedForeign Influence - Contact with Foreign Family Members
- AG ¶ 6(b)raisedForeign Influence - Connections to Foreign Persons
- AG ¶ 8(a)appliedForeign Influence - Nature of Relationships
- AG ¶ 8(b)appliedForeign Influence - Minimal Conflict of Interest
- AG ¶ 8(c)appliedForeign Influence - Casual and Infrequent Contact
- AG ¶ 8(e)appliedForeign Influence - Compliance with Reporting Requirements
- AG ¶ 7(a)appliedForeign Preference - Relinquished Foreign Passport
Key rule quoted
“The principal purpose of a security clearance decision is to resolve whether it is clearly consistent with the national interest for an applicant to either receive or continue to have access to classified information.”
Procedural posture
- SOR issuedJun 16, 2016
- Answer filedTimely
- Hearing heldDec 27, 2016
- Decision dateMay 19, 2017
Cite for
- Mitigation of Foreign Influence Concerns Due to Lack of Recent Contact with Family Abroad
- Relinquishment of Foreign Passport as a Mitigating Factor Under Guideline C
- Candidness in Disclosing Personal Background and Ties to Foreign Entities.