A US tribunal has mandated that Prince Harry’s immigration papers must be made available to the public by Tuesday.
District Judge Carl Nichols decreed the release of the records based on a freedom of information (FOI) petition launched by the Heritage Foundation, a right-leaning US think tank in Washington DC.
The foundation asserts that the prince hid his earlier illicit drug consumption, which should have barred him from securing a US visa.
The accusations revolve around the Duke of Sussex’s declarations in his autobiography Spare, where he mentioned consuming cocaine, marijuana, and hallucinogenic mushrooms.
In the memoir, released in January 2023, Prince Harry penned that he initially sampled cocaine at the age of 17.
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“It wasn’t especially enjoyable, and it did not make me particularly joyful, as it seemed to affect everyone around me, but it did make me feel different, and that was the prime objective,” he added.
He further described utilizing marijuana, stating “cocaine didn’t do anything for me”, but “marijuana is different, that actually really did help me”.
Application forms for US visas specifically inquire about present and historical drug use.
Admissions concerning drug usage can result in rejection of non-immigrant and immigrant visa applications, though immigration officials possess authority to make a final decision based on various elements.
The Heritage Foundation alleges that Prince Harry misrepresented his drug use to US immigration authorities, potentially leading to a permanent ban from the United States.
The BBC has reached out to the White House and the duke’s office for comment.
The court’s decision arrives subsequent to a 2024 decision by the same judge which stated that there was insufficient public interest in revealing Prince Harry’s immigration documents.
The Heritage Foundation challenged that ruling and pressed for a modification of the judgement.
Prince Harry relocated to the United States with his spouse Meghan in 2020 after resigning as a working royal. It remains uncertain on which visa he entered the country, while the duchess holds US citizenship.
President Donald Trump previously ruled out deporting Prince Harry in February, informing the New York Post “I’ll leave him alone… He’s got enough issues with his wife. She’s awful.”
Meghan has been an outspoken critic of Trump previously, characterizing him as a “misogynist”.