Heavily redacted documents related to Prince Harry’s U.S. visa have been made public amid concern the royal — who has admitted to drug use in the past — was unfairly granted permission to reside in the United States.
Judge Carl Nichols ordered the documents’ release on Tuesday in response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the Heritage Foundation in 2023. It was initially denied by the Department of Homeland Security, prompting the foundation to file a lawsuit, arguing there is “intense public interest” in knowing whether Harry received special treatment during the application process.
“This speculation by Plaintiffs does not point to any evidence of government misconduct,” the agency stated. “The records, as explained above, do not support such an allegation but show the regulatory process involved in reviewing and granting immigration benefits which was done in compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1103 and applicable rules and regulations.”
The conservative think tank, which is based in Washington D.C., sought his immigration documents to confirm their theory that the Duke of Sussex was not truthful on his visa application about past experiences with illegal substances. All visa applicants are asked about current and past drug use, and admissions can lead to rejection, though immigration officials have discretion and make a final decision based on a variety of factors.
“[The case] comes about in the main because HRH [His Royal Highness] voluntarily — and for immense profit — admitted in writing to the elements of any number of controlled substance violations. (Indeed, some say HRH has approached the point of bragging and encouraging illegal drug use),” per a previous filing by the Heritage Foundation.
“The Duke of Sussex did so despite the fact that it is widely known that such admissions can have adverse immigration consequences for non-citizens and despite employing preeminent legal advisors on both sides of the Atlantic,” the filing continues.
It’s apparently referencing Prince Harry’s memoir, “Spare,” in which he admitted to using drugs including cannabis, cocaine, magic mushrooms and ayahuasca. The Heritage Foundation argued such an admission should have blocked him from moving to the United States.
The 40-year-old royal has been living in California since March 2020 with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
He has not consented to having his records made public nor was he party to the Heritage Foundation lawsuit.
DHS chief FOIA officer Jarrod Panter noted that to release Harry’s” exact status could subject him to reasonably foreseeable harm in the form of harassment as well as unwanted contact by the media and others.”