Prince Harry was recently seen in Santa Barbara, California, appearing relaxed in a casual outfit as he attended to errands near his home in Montecito. This public appearance occurred just hours after substantial documents regarding his US visa were unsealed, creating a renewed interest in his immigration status.

The documents, made public following a court ruling last week, largely consisted of redacted information, leaving many questions unanswered. Specifically, the critical inquiry concerning whether Harry had answered ‘no’ to the drug use question on his 2020 visa application remains unresolved. The controversy surrounding Harry’s visa status originated from claims made by The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, which argued that the duke’s candid admissions about past drug use in his memoir, Spare, should necessitate a closer examination of his immigration status.

The unsealed documents, as reported by the Mirror, include a declaration from Jarrod Panter, a chief freedom of information officer at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This declaration explained the need for the extensive redactions, stating that divulging personal information in the documents could subject Harry to potential harm from the public, including harassment and unwanted media attention. “To release his exact status could subject him to reasonably foreseeable harm in the form of harassment as well as unwanted contact by the media and others,” Panter noted.

The visa application process is particularly stringent when it comes to questions about drug use, as such admissions can significantly hinder the likelihood of approval. While immigration officers have discretionary powers to assess applications based on various factors, the implications of Harry’s past substance use could complicate matters.

In another development, former US President Donald Trump recently addressed the topic of Prince Harry’s immigration status. In an interview with The New York Post, Trump stated that he would not pursue deportation of Harry from the US, saying, “I’ll leave him alone,” while also making remarks about the prince’s marriage to Meghan Markle. Trump’s comments have sparked additional dialogue, as he referenced whether Harry should face consequences if found to have lied on his visa application, stating, “No. We’ll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied, they’ll have to take appropriate action.”

As it stands, Prince Harry continues to reside in the United States with Meghan Markle, having moved there in 2020. The ongoing discussions about his visa status reflect the complexities of immigration policy as well as the public interest surrounding the couple’s life in America.

Source: Noah Wire Services