The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, urged a federal court on Tuesday, June 6, to unseal Prince Harry’s US immigration records.
The foundation’s move comes after Prince Harry, 38, admitted to past drug use in his recent book, “Spare.”
In response to the foundation’s Freedom of Information Act complaint, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that while there might be some public interest in the records, they are not convinced that it is necessary to release Prince Harry’s immigration file. The DHS has been given until June 13 to provide an official response to the records request, as ordered by Judge Carl Nichols.
The Heritage Foundation’s interest in Prince Harry’s immigration records stems from US immigration laws, which stipulate that a history of drug use can lead to visa rejection. Given the extensive media coverage and public interest surrounding Prince Harry’s confessed drug offenses, the foundation emphasizes the need for transparency to ensure that proper protocols were followed when granting him a visa.
Initially, the request for Prince Harry’s records was denied due to his refusal to permit their release. The US Justice Department argued that mere conjecture about Prince Harry’s visa status did not meet the criteria necessary for expediting the release of the documents. However, the Heritage Foundation remains persistent in its pursuit of clarity regarding the serious questions raised by Prince Harry’s acknowledged drug use, which typically renders an individual ineligible for entry into the US.
Prince Harry detailed his past drug use in his January memoir, “Spare.” He admitted to using cocaine, marijuana, and magic mushrooms during his teenage years as a way to cope with his unhappiness. The memoir also revealed his transition from tobacco to marijuana while studying at Eton College and his experience with magic mushrooms during a brief visit to the US, where he and a friend consumed black diamond mushroom chocolates at actress Courteney Cox’s residence.
