Summary
A 55-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen and linguist was denied a security clearance under Guideline B (Foreign Influence) due to his family ties to Iran. The Statement of Reasons detailed that the applicant has a brother and sister who are Iranian citizens and residents, both married to Iranian nationals. Additionally, the applicant's wife, an Iranian citizen residing in the U.S. since 2004, has traveled to Iran at least three times, most recently in early 2012, to visit relatives.
The applicant's wife and children maintain frequent telephonic contact with relatives in Iran, with the wife speaking to family weekly or bi-weekly, and a daughter speaking with a cousin about every other week. Disqualifying Conditions 7(a) and 7(d) were raised, citing the applicant's immediate family members residing in a foreign country and the applicant's family members being foreign citizens.
The denial was based on the judge's finding that the multiple travels of the applicant's wife and children to Iran, combined with close family ties to individuals residing in a country with a hostile stance toward the U.S., posed a significant risk of foreign influence. The applicant's expressed concerns for his family's safety regarding their visits to Iran were deemed insufficient to mitigate these risks.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant's wife and children have traveled to Iran multiple times, creating a risk of foreign influence.
- The applicant has close family ties to individuals residing in Iran, a country known for its hostile stance towards the U.S.
- The applicant's expressed concerns for his family's safety were not sufficient to mitigate the risks associated with their connections to Iran.
Conditions Referenced
- DC 7(a)appliedContact with Foreign Family Members
- DC 7(d)appliedSharing Living Quarters with Foreign Nationals
Key Rule Quoted
“No one has a right to a security clearance and the clearly consistent standard indicates that security clearance determinations should err, if they must, on the side of denials.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedAug 20, 2012
- Answer filed—Applicant submitted an undated response.
- Hearing heldJan 7, 2013
- Decision dateJan 25, 2013
Cite For
- Foreign Influence Concerns Due to Family Ties Under Guideline B
- Impact of Family Travel to Hostile Countries on Security Clearance Eligibility
- The Burden of Proof in Security Clearance Cases Rests with the Applicant After the Government Establishes a Case Against Them.