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Summary

The applicant, a U.S. citizen with dual citizenship in Jordan, sought a security clearance but was denied due to concerns under Guideline B (Foreign Influence) and Guideline C (Foreign Preference). The applicant's close family ties to Jordan and Israel, including multiple relatives who are dual citizens, raised significant security concerns regarding potential coercion and divided loyalties. The applicant's unwillingness to renounce his Jordanian citizenship further contributed to the denial.

Under Guideline B (Foreign Influence) and Guideline C (Foreign Preference), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: Applicant’s parents and sister are dual citizens of the U.S. and Jordan. They reside in Israel. Applicant’s father is an officer in a family business located in part in Israel. His mother is employed as a secretary by the family business. Applicant’s sister is a student at a university in Israel. About once a month, Applicant has contact with his parents and sister by telephone (1.a). Applicant’s maternal grandfather is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Jordan and resides in Israel, where he owns a business. Applicant’s maternal grandmother is a citizen of Jordan and also resides in Israel. She is employed in her husband’s business. Applicant has contact with his maternal grandparents about once a year by telephone (1.b). One of Applicant’s uncles is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Jordan and resides in Jordan. The uncle is the president of the family business which employs Applicant’s father and mother. Applicant has contact with his uncle in Jordan twice a year by telephone (1.c). Three of Applicant’s uncles are dual citizens of the U.S. and Jordan and reside in the U.S. Two of the uncles own a U.S. business together. From April 2004 to June 2006, Applicant was employed by these two uncles in their business. The third uncle is employed by a U.S. university. Applicant has contact with his three uncles who reside in the U.S. about three to four times per week (1.d). Applicant’s brother and his paternal grandmother are also dual citizens of the U.S. and Jordan. They reside in the U.S. Applicant’s brother is employed as an information technology consultant by a U.S. business. His paternal grandmother is unemployed. Applicant has daily contact with his brother and paternal grandmother (1.e). Applicant does not own property in Jordan, Israel, or any other foreign country. He does not possess any foreign bank accounts. He does not have any foreign business or financial interests. He does not receive support from his foreign national relatives (1.f). Applicant was issued a U.S. passport on November 2, 2000. He maintains and uses a Jordanian passport when he travels to Jordan. He was issued a Jordanian passport in May 2004. His Jordanian passport will expire in April 2009 (1.g). While he considers himself to be a loyal U.S. citizen, Applicant exercises dual citizenship with Jordan and is unwilling to renounce his Jordanian citizenship. He maintains Jordanian citizenship because he expects someday to inherit property in Jordan, and Jordanian citizenship is a condition for eligibility to inherit property in that country (1.h). Applicant actively sought dual citizenship with Jordan and a Jordanian passport (2.a). Applicant maintains and uses a Jordanian passport when traveling to Jordan (2.b).

The judge denied the clearance. The government raised disqualifying conditions AG ¶ 7(a), AG ¶ 7(b), AG ¶ 7(i), AG ¶ 10(a)(1), AG ¶ 10(a)(5), AG ¶ 10(b). The decision turned on the following: The applicant admitted all allegations under Guidelines B and C, establishing a basis for security concerns; The applicant's dual citizenship and family ties in Jordan and Israel created a heightened risk of foreign influence and coercion; The applicant's use of a Jordanian passport and refusal to renounce his Jordanian citizenship indicated a preference for a foreign country over the U.S.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

• The applicant admitted all allegations under Guidelines B and C, establishing a basis for security concerns.
• The applicant's dual citizenship and family ties in Jordan and Israel created a heightened risk of foreign influence and coercion.
• The applicant's use of a Jordanian passport and refusal to renounce his Jordanian citizenship indicated a preference for a foreign country over the U.S.

Conditions Referenced

Key Rule Quoted

“Any doubt concerning personnel being considered for access to classified information will be resolved in favor of national security.”

Procedural Posture

• SOR issuedApr 22, 2008
• Answer filedMay 1, 2008Requested decision on the record.
• Hearing held—No hearing; decision made on the record.
• Decision dateSep 22, 2008

Cite For

• Security Concerns Related to Dual Citizenship Under Guideline B
• Impact of Foreign Family Ties on Security Clearance Eligibility
• Criteria for Evaluating Foreign Preference Under Guideline C