Security Clearances

Personal and facility security clearances are required for some work with the Federal government, specifically the Departments of Defense, Energy and Justice and the Central Intelligence Agency, among others. Each agency has different requirements for the security clearances and different procedures for adjudicating, restricting or restoring clearances. Non-US citizens can be granted a Limited Access Authorization (LAA) for access to no more than secret material if a cleared or clearable US citizen is not readily available. Puckett & Faraj, PC provide legal services in contesting early termination of clearances for individuals, application process for facility clearances, support businesses requesting LAA’s for non-US citizens with particular skills required for a government contract, and represent individuals when their clearances are terminated for cause.

Terrorism Related Charges

18 U.S. Code (Part 1, Chpt 113b, Section 2331) defines terrorism as “violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State” … “committed within the jurisdiction of the United States or of any State;” … with the “inten(t) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.” The Law Firm of Puckett & Faraj, PC provides litigation in all aspects of terrorism related charges for individual charged with violations of terrorism as discovered under surveillance by law enforcement under the USA Patriot Act. We provide litigation services for individuals charged by the Transportation Security Administration under the Air Transportation and Safety System Stabilization Act. Our client defense services include petitions, grand jury hearings, court proceedings, and administrative law involved in defending clients against accusations.

Security Detentions, Extraditions, Renditions

The Law Firm of Puckett & Faraj, PC provides defense for security detention of US citizens and non-citizens in US courts, defense against extradition of persons in the USA to other countries, and defense against rendition of persons between the states. We will provide a client the strongest defense possible when defining the crime as sufficiently serious and whether or not there exists a prima facie case against the individual. Puckett & Faraj, PC will define if the event qualifies as a crime in both countries, and whether or not the individual can expect a fair trial in the recipient country and if the punishment is proportional to the crime. Our litigation skills will enable us to argue the appropriate points to secure a US decision against extradition.

FOIA Requests and Litigation

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Title 5, US Code, Section 552, generally provides that any person has the right to request access to federal agency records or information. All agencies of the U.S. Government are required to disclose records upon receiving a written request, except those records that are protected from disclosure pursuant to nine exemptions and three exclusions. The FOIA applies only to federal agencies and does not create a right of access to records held by Congress, the courts, or by state or local government agencies. Any requests for state or local government records should be directed to the appropriate state or local government agency. Department of State records and information access is codified in 22 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 171.

Puckett & Faraj, PC can provide administrative law services to request and search for the appropriate documentation under the FOIA Act and CFR 171.