- Prince Harry's US visa documents were unsealed but heavily redacted
- The Heritage Foundation claims he hid past drug use
- The US government warned of potential harassment
Court documents related to the Duke of Sussex’s US visa application have been unsealed, though they remain heavily redacted, leaving no details about what Prince Harry disclosed on his immigration form.
A US court ordered the release of these documents following a Freedom of Information request by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington, DC. The foundation claims that the prince failed to disclose his past drug use, which, they argue, should have disqualified him from receiving a US visa.
The allegations are based on references in Prince Harry’s memoir Spare, where he admitted to using cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms.
US visa applications specifically inquire about past and current drug use. Admissions of drug use can result in the rejection of both immigrant and non-immigrant visa applications, although immigration officers have discretion to make decisions based on other factors.
The documents released on Tuesday revealed very little, with the prince’s actual visa application form not included. Instead, the documents consisted of declarations and court transcripts related to the Heritage Foundation’s case.
These records indicate that the US government had previously expressed concerns about potential harassment if the prince’s visa records were made public. A chief Freedom of Information officer from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) argued that releasing this information could expose the duke to harm, such as public harassment. In a declaration submitted in April of the previous year, Jarrod Panter, a DHS official, stated that the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) typically protects non-immigrant and immigrant status records from disclosure to prevent harassment or unwanted contact.
Sam Dewey from the Heritage Foundation expressed frustration over the limited disclosure, suggesting that the DHS may not have released all relevant documents. He indicated that this was not the end of the matter and hinted at the possibility of another lawsuit against the DHS.
Dewey accused Prince Harry of using his privilege—wealth and status—to gain entry into the US, which he believes should not have been allowed.
In his memoir, Prince Harry revealed that he first tried cocaine at 17, describing the experience as “not much fun” and “didn’t make me particularly happy.” He also shared that marijuana had a stronger effect on him, saying it “really did help me.”
The release of the documents came after a 2024 ruling that determined there was insufficient public interest to disclose Prince Harry’s immigration records. The Heritage Foundation challenged this decision, pushing for the records to be made public.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan moved to the US in 2020 after stepping back from their royal duties. The specific type of visa Harry holds remains unclear, while Meghan, being a US citizen, did not require one. Former President Donald Trump had previously stated in February that he would not deport Prince Harry, joking that the duke had enough challenges with his wife.
The BBC has reached out to the Duke’s office for comment.
