A US court ruling has mandated that Prince Harry's immigration records be made public by Tuesday, following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington D.C. The organization's allegations assert that the Duke of Sussex failed to disclose prior drug use on his visa application, which they claim could disqualify him from receiving a US visa. The controversy stems from admissions made by Prince Harry in his memoir, "Spare," where he discusses his experimentation with substances such as cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms during his youth.
Prince Harry's Visa Records Ordered to Be Released Amid Drug Use Allegations
Prince Harry's Visa Records Ordered to Be Released Amid Drug Use Allegations
A US judge mandates the disclosure of Prince Harry's immigration files following a FOI request, steeped in drug use controversies.
In his memoir published in January 2023, Harry recounted his initial encounter with cocaine at 17, describing it as not particularly enjoyable but sufficient to create a sense of difference from his peers. He juxtaposed this with his experience of using marijuana, claiming it had a more positive effect on him. Specifically, he noted, "Cocaine didn't do anything for me," while asserting marijuana "actually really did help me."
According to US visa application protocols, individuals must disclose any drug use history, with such admissions risking rejection of both non-immigrant and immigrant applications. The Heritage Foundation argues that if Prince Harry provided false information to immigration authorities regarding his drug history, he could face a lifetime ban from the United States.
The court's decision coincides with renewed efforts from the Heritage Foundation to overturn a previous ruling made by Judge Carl Nichols in 2024, which deemed that there was an insufficient public interest in Prince Harry’s immigration records.
Harry and his wife Meghan Markle relocated to the US in 2020 after stepping back from royal duties; details regarding his specific visa status remain unclear, while Meghan, being a US citizen, did not require a visa. In February, former President Donald Trump expressed that he would not support any efforts to deport Prince Harry, adding that the Duke already faces enough challenges in his personal life, notably referring to Meghan's past criticisms of Trump, which she labeled him as a "misogynist."
According to US visa application protocols, individuals must disclose any drug use history, with such admissions risking rejection of both non-immigrant and immigrant applications. The Heritage Foundation argues that if Prince Harry provided false information to immigration authorities regarding his drug history, he could face a lifetime ban from the United States.
The court's decision coincides with renewed efforts from the Heritage Foundation to overturn a previous ruling made by Judge Carl Nichols in 2024, which deemed that there was an insufficient public interest in Prince Harry’s immigration records.
Harry and his wife Meghan Markle relocated to the US in 2020 after stepping back from royal duties; details regarding his specific visa status remain unclear, while Meghan, being a US citizen, did not require a visa. In February, former President Donald Trump expressed that he would not support any efforts to deport Prince Harry, adding that the Duke already faces enough challenges in his personal life, notably referring to Meghan's past criticisms of Trump, which she labeled him as a "misogynist."
