Heritage Foundation sues DHS to release Prince Harry's U.S. visa records after drug admissions

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was sued on Monday to release Prince Harry’s visa records after he admitted to having used drugs when he requested legal status in the country. 

The DC-based think tank The Heritage Foundation filed the suit one month after it requested the information through the Freedom of Information Act. While immigration records are usually exempt from FOIA requests, the organization argues that the immigration records of the Duke of Sussex are of “immense public interest.”

“Widespread and continuous media coverage has surfaced the question of whether DHS properly admitted the Duke of Sussex in light of the fact that he has publicly admitted to the essential elements of a number of drug offenses in both the United States and abroad,” the plaintiffs said in the lawsuit. 

"Intense media coverage has also surfaced the question of whether DHS may have improperly granted the Duke of Sussex a waiver to enter the country on a non-immigrant visa given his history of admissions to the essential elements of drug offenses," it continues. 

The royal prince has lived in California with his wife Meghan Markle since March 2020 after leaving behind his royal duties in the U.K. He most likely entered the U.S. through a spousal visa stemming from Markle’s American citizenship. However, other sources say he might have entered the country through an 0-1 visa, which is guaranteed to people who have “extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics” or have an extraordinary achievement in television or film. 

Regardless of the visa, they are applying for, U.S. visa applicants who are found to be drug abusers or addicts or have admitted to using controlled substances are “inadmissible,” according to U.S. law.  

Earlier this year, Prince Harry admitted to having used drugs, including cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms, in his memoir “Spare.” Harry admitted to trying cocaine for the first time at 17 and has used it sparingly since then.