Court documents related to Prince Harry’s US visa application have been unsealed, revealing concerns over his past drug use and potential risks to his privacy.
Documents related to Prince Harry’s application for a US visa have been unsealed by a court, albeit with significant redactions intended to protect him from potential “harm and harassment.” The unsealing occurred in response to a freedom of information request made by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington DC. The foundation claims that the Duke of Sussex concealed past drug use when relocating to the US in 2020, an omission they argue should have disqualified him from obtaining a visa.
The foundation’s assertions are bolstered by revelations from Prince Harry’s 2023 memoir, Spare, where he discusses his previous use of cocaine, cannabis, and psychedelic mushrooms. This controversy centres around whether Prince Harry received special treatment in the visa application process after stepping down from his royal duties alongside his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.
US visa application forms explicitly inquire about an applicant’s current and past drug usage. Admissions to drug use can lead to visa denials, although immigration officials exercise discretion in their final decisions. In his memoir, Prince Harry reveals that he first experimented with cocaine at 17, stating, “It wasn’t much fun, and it didn’t make me particularly happy, as it seemed to make everyone around me, but it did make me feel different, and that was the main goal.” He also spoke of his experiences with marijuana, noting, “cocaine didn’t do anything for me, but marijuana is different; that actually really did help me.”
In September 2022, Judge Carl Nichols ruled in favour of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), asserting that Prince Harry’s right to privacy outweighed the public interest in the case. However, this decision was reversed last week when Judge Nichols mandated that redacted versions of the visa application documents be filed by the government.
Despite the court’s order, the documents released contained minimal information. They included approximately 80 pages of supporting declarations and court transcripts related to the Heritage Foundation’s legal challenge, with roughly half of the content redacted. The declarations from the DHS indicated that disclosing Prince Harry’s visa details could expose him to potential harm from the public, particularly harassment or unwanted media attention.
Jarrod Panter, a chief freedom of information officer within the DHS, commented in a court declaration, “The USCIS 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.” He further elaborated that revealing such information could result in “foreseeable harm in the form of harassment as well as unwanted contact by the media and others.”
At this time, neither Prince Harry nor representatives from the Heritage Foundation have responded to inquiries regarding the matter. Additionally, former President Donald Trump recently remarked that he would not initiate any deportation proceedings against Harry, saying, “I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.”
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://economictimes.com/news/international/us/will-he-be-deported-prince-harrys-visa-records-to-be-unsealed-after-judges-ruling-sparks-frenzy-over-alleged-drug-use-deception/articleshow/119130349.cms – This article discusses the controversy surrounding Prince Harry’s visa records, including allegations of drug use and potential deportation, following a court ruling to unseal his documents.
- https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/prince-harrys-unsealed-us-immigration-records-confirm-no-evidence-of-government-misconduct-101742363286647.html – The article reports on the release of Prince Harry’s U.S. visa documents, which were heavily redacted and found no evidence of government misconduct in his immigration process.
- https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/prince-harrys-immigration-records-made-public-amid-court/story?id=119922463 – This piece covers the release of Prince Harry’s immigration records, highlighting that they show no favorable treatment in his visa application process and discuss the controversy over potential drug use disclosure.
- https://www.justice.gov/archives/sco/file/1373816/dl?inline= – Although unrelated to Prince Harry’s case, this document is included as it pertains to legal and investigative processes in the U.S., which can provide context for how visa applications and legal challenges are handled.
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10311201/ – This article discusses digital evidence in investigations, which, while not directly related to Prince Harry’s case, highlights the importance of evidence in legal proceedings.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references recent events, such as the unsealing of documents and Prince Harry’s 2023 memoir, indicating it is relatively current. However, some details, like the September 2022 court ruling, are not entirely new.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The quotes from Prince Harry’s memoir are verified through his book *Spare*. However, the quote from Donald Trump could not be verified as the earliest source, which might indicate it is a recent or original statement.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Independent, a well-known and reputable publication, which generally enhances the reliability of the information.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about Prince Harry’s visa application and drug use are plausible given his memoir revelations. However, the extent of special treatment in the visa process remains speculative without further evidence.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is generally reliable due to its recent context and origin from a reputable source. While some details cannot be fully verified, the information aligns with known facts about Prince Harry’s memoir and legal proceedings.
