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Judge rejects conservative efforts to release Prince Harry's immigration documents over drug use

Top line

A conservative think tank's push to make Britain's Prince Harry's US visa application public after he admitted to illegal drug use in his memoirs – which can lead to applications being rejected – was rejected this week by a judge who ruled that Harry's privacy outweighed the public interest in his personal documents.

Key data

Judge Carl Nichols, a district judge in the District of Columbia, ruled late Monday that “the public does not have a strong interest in disclosing the Duke's immigration records” and that the visa application of the British royal, who now lives in California, would therefore remain confidential.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank and one of the groups behind the controversial Project 2025 plan, sued the Department of Homeland Security last year over concerns that the Biden administration had not adequately reviewed the prince's visa application in light of his illegal drug use, which he admitted to in his memoir, “Spare,” published last January.

The youngest son of King Charles III and the late Princess Diana wrote in the book that he had used marijuana, cocaine and psychedelic drugs.

The foundation said the Biden administration may not have followed its own protocol in issuing Harry's visa if the prince had admitted to drug use on the application – as is required. In addition, former President Donald Trump later suggested that Harry could be deported if it turned out that he had not disclosed drug use and lied on his application.

Lawyers for the Biden administration argued that the stories told in the memoir were not “proof” that Harry took drugs and that he may have sugarcoated the reality to “sell books.”

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Important background

In February, Prince Harry said he had considered becoming an American citizen after spending four “fantastic” years in California. Harry moved to the West Coast with his wife Meghan Markle in 2020 and lives there with his two children, Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie, who are all American citizens. If he were to actually become an American citizen, he would likely have to give up his title as Duke of Sussex.

tangent

U.S. visa applications generally require applicants to disclose their past drug use in order to obtain a visa or green card. Such use does not automatically disqualify an applicant, but is a factor that will be considered, and the severity of use, the type of drug involved, and any drug-related criminal history will be considered in the decision-making process. Applicants who are considered drug abusers or addicts will not be admitted under U.S. immigration policy unless their addiction is in remission.

More information

ForbesTrump suggests Prince Harry could be deported for alleged drug useFrom Molly BohannonForbesIs Prince Harry an American citizen? Not yet, but after four years in California, he's thinking about it.From Mary Whitfill Roeloffs
ForbesPrince Harry and self-help books dominate the 2023 non-fiction bestseller listFrom Mary Whitfill Roeloffs

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