In a recent court ruling, documents about the Duke of Sussex’s application for a US visa have been made public.
The documents in question are significantly redacted, leaving the specifics of Prince Harry’s immigration form undisclosed.
A US court has mandated the release of documents following a freedom of information request submitted by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington, DC.
The foundation claims that the prince hid his previous drug use, a revelation that could have barred him from securing a US visa.
Allegations have emerged concerning claims made in his memoir, Spare, in which he discusses his experiences with cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms.
US visa application forms explicitly enquire about both current and past drug use.
The acknowledgement of drug use may result in the denial of both non-immigrant and immigrant visa applications. However, immigration officers retain the authority to exercise discretion in their final determinations, considering various factors.
During the event, the documents released on Tuesday revealed minimal information.
The visa form for the prince remains unreleased.
The released documents include supporting declarations and court transcripts generated during the Heritage Foundation’s legal proceedings.
The US government has previously informed a court that the duke may face harassment if his visa records are disclosed to the public.
A senior official responsible for freedom of information at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has suggested that disclosing the material “could potentially put the individual at risk from members of the public”.
In a court declaration submitted in April of the previous year, Jarrod Panter stated, “The USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) routinely protects from disclosure the non-immigrant/immigrant status sought by third parties who do not have permission from the beneficiary to receive this information.”
“Disclosing such information could put the individual at risk of harm from members of the public who may seek to manipulate or harass individuals based on their status in the United States.”
The statement emphasised that disclosing his precise status might expose him to potential harm, including harassment and unwanted attention from the media and others.
Sam Dewey, a representative from the Heritage Foundation, expressed to the BBC his belief that the Department of Homeland Security has not disclosed all of its documents. He expressed frustration, asserting that this situation is “not the end of the road”.
Dewey anticipates that the forthcoming action will resemble a “sort of filing” that may delineate the subsequent steps. He further noted, “We may well have another lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security.”
The prince faces accusations of privilege, claiming he has leveraged his “wealth and status” to secure a life in the US.
In a memoir that has sparked considerable debate, released in January 2023, Prince Harry revealed that he first experimented with cocaine at the age of 17.
“While it lacked enjoyment and failed to bring me happiness, unlike those around me who seemed to revel in it, it did succeed in making me feel distinct, which was ultimately my primary objective,” he stated.
He expressed his views on marijuana, stating, “cocaine didn’t do anything for me,” while adding, “marijuana is different, that actually really did help me.”
The NHS reports that cocaine is a highly addictive substance associated with various short-term and long-term effects. Marijuana, also known as cannabis, has the potential to exacerbate specific existing mental health symptoms and is associated with the possible onset of mental health disorders.
A recent court ruling has mandated the release of specific files following a 2024 decision that determined insufficient public interest in revealing Prince Harry’s immigration records.
The Heritage Foundation challenged the ruling and advocated for a revision of the judgement.
In 2020, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan decided to relocate to the United States after their departure from royal duties. The specifics of the visa under which he entered the country remain uncertain, unlike the duchess, who holds US citizenship.
In a statement made to the New York Post in February, President Donald Trump indicated that he would not pursue the deportation of Prince Harry, saying, “I’ll leave him alone…” He is currently facing significant challenges in his marriage. Her performance has been widely criticised.
Meghan has openly criticised Trump previously, describing him as a “misogynist.”
