Originally published at: https://clearancejobsblog.com/living-with-illegal-alien-results-in-clearance-denial/
In a recent Defense Office of Hearing and Appeals case a longtime government contractor had his clearance reinstatement request denied because he was living with his Mexican-born girlfriend who was in the U.S. illegally. I know you are asking yourself right now “what’s the big deal here?” There is a little bit more to this…
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I agree with DOHA’s decision, but I do not believe that “the current political climate” had anything to do with it and the Director of DOHA would absolutely disagree with that contention. DOHA and ALL DoD adjudicators are trained and practice implementation of the adjudicative guidelines. Political climate and other distractions, such as lawyers, Congressmen, General Officers, etc, should not be influencing eligibility determinations. I also disagree with the idea that the subject “has not broken the law” when he has, in fact, been harboring a criminal therefore he is an accessory to a crime. I would love to read the PSI, especially the personal interview to know what he knew and when. Denial was the appropriate decision.
I agree, as an adjudicator I would never pay attention to outside issues such as politics and news. I meant to say is that it just happens to coincide with current events.
In a similar case (ISCR Case No. 10-00503) the DOHA Administrative Judge cited disqualification under Guideline E (Personal Conduct). It seems that Guideline E is often used in place of Guideline J (Criminal Conduct) when common sense indicates that a law is being violated, but there may be insufficient evidence to prove all elements of the crime. In this case proof of harboring an illegal alien (8 U.S.C. 1324, a felony), probably depends on whether the clearance applicant pays most or all of the rent (and living expenses) and therefore substantially facilitate the alien’s remaining in the U.S. illegally with knowledge of the alien’s unlawful status.