An American court has ordered Prince Harry's immigration records released by the end of Tuesday after a request for Freedom of Information (FOI) was made by the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank in Washington, D.C.
The order was given by District Judge Carl Nichols, according to whom the documents need to be released after the foundation complained about the prince's history of drug use, which they argue should have disqualified him from receiving a U.S. visa.
The allegations arise from Prince Harry's autobiography *Spare*, which was published in January 2023. He revealed that he used substances like cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms. In the book, he states he tried cocaine when he was 17 years old, but stated it "didn't make me particularly happy" and wasn't nice. He explained his use of marijuana: "Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me."
US visa application forms specifically inquire into current as well as historical drug use, and admissions of drug use can cause visa applications to be rejected. But immigration officials have discretion to make a final decision based on other considerations. The Heritage Foundation has accused Prince Harry of lying about his drug use to US immigration officials, which may mean a lifetime ban on him entering the U.S.
Court papers reveal that the Department of Homeland Security is required to release the sought immigration files by Tuesday's end.
The BBC has contacted the White House and Prince Harry's office for comment.
The decision comes after a 2024 ruling by Judge Nichols, who originally ruled that there was no public interest in releasing Prince Harry's immigration files. That ruling was appealed by the Heritage Foundation, which asked the case to be heard again.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan moved to the U.S. in 2020 following his resignation as a senior royal. It is uncertain on what visa he entered the country, although Meghan, as an American, did not need a visa.
In February, former US President Donald Trump rejected the possibility of deporting Prince Harry, saying, "I'll leave him alone. He's got enough problems with his wife. She's terrible." Meghan, meanwhile, has publicly criticized Trump as a "misogynist."
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