Summary
A 51-year-old U.S. citizen and facilities manager was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline B (Foreign Influence) and Guideline C (Foreign Preference). The applicant was a dual citizen of Iran and the U.S., possessing an Iranian passport which he used to enter Iran in preference to his U.S. passport.
Further concerns arose from the applicant's family ties. His father, now deceased, was a citizen and resident of Iran, as are his sisters and one brother. Another brother is a citizen and resident of Germany. These immediate family connections in Iran raised significant security concerns regarding potential foreign influence.
Despite the applicant returning his Iranian passport and expressing a willingness to renounce his dual citizenship, the judge determined that these actions did not sufficiently mitigate the security risks. The applicant's contacts with family in Iran were not considered casual or infrequent enough to alleviate foreign influence concerns, leading to the denial of his security clearance.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- Applicant possessed and used an Iranian passport in preference to his U.S. passport to enter and exit Iran.
- Applicant's immediate family members are citizens and residents of Iran, raising security concerns under Guideline B.
- The applicant's contacts with family in Iran were deemed not casual or infrequent enough to mitigate foreign influence concerns.
Conditions Referenced
- E2.A3.1.2.1raisedDual Citizenship
- E2.A3.1.2.2raisedPossession of Foreign Passport
- E2.A2.1.2.1raisedImmediate Family in Foreign Country
- E2.A3.1.3.1rejectedDual Citizenship Based on BirthApplicant's dual citizenship is based solely on his birth in Iran, but the exercise of that citizenship through the Iranian passport raised security concerns.
- E2.A2.1.3.3rejectedCasual and Infrequent ContactsContacts with family members in Iran were not considered casual or infrequent enough to mitigate concerns.
- E2.A2.1.3.1rejectedFamily Members Not Agents of Foreign PowerThe vulnerability of the applicant's family members in Iran could force him to choose between loyalty to them and loyalty to the U.S.
Key Rule Quoted
“An applicant may be vulnerable to foreign influence even if does not have a favorable opinion toward that country.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedJun 24, 2003
- Answer filedJul 25, 2003
- Hearing heldDec 8, 2003
- Decision dateJan 9, 2004
Cite For
- Foreign Preference Concerns Due to Possession of a Foreign Passport
- Foreign Influence Risks Associated with Family Ties in a Foreign Country
- The Impact of Familial Obligations on Security Clearance Eligibility