Prince Harry is being encouraged to disclose details of his US visa application to avoid becoming a "political pawn" amidst questions about his past drug use. A Freedom of Information (FoI) request by the Heritage Foundation, a leading American think-tank, seeks clarification on how the Duke of Sussex obtained permission to enter the US, despite admitting to using drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and magic mushrooms in his memoir and promotional interviews.
US immigration law requires visa applicants to answer the question, "Are you or have you ever been a drug abuser or addict?" with a "yes" or "no." Admitting drug use typically results in entry denial, as seen with Nigella Lawson and the late Amy Winehouse.
The Heritage Foundation's senior lawyer, Samuel Dewey, told The Mail on Sunday: "It is in the public interest to know how Prince Harry answered the drug question." He added that if Prince Harry answered "yes," he would need a waiver to obtain a visa, which would require an in-person interview and authorization from an immigration official.
With immigration expected to be a central focus of the 2024 presidential election, there are concerns that Prince Harry's connections to prominent Democratic Party figures, such as former President Barack Obama and major Democratic donors like Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, could result in him becoming an "unwitting pawn in a highly political game."
Dewey emphasized the importance of transparency, saying, "If Prince Harry was given a waiver, who authorized it? Was the correct protocol followed? It's something the American people deserve to know." He also mentioned that if a waiver was granted, there is no suggestion that Prince Harry did anything wrong or was aware of any political strings that may have been pulled.
The US has a history of releasing immigration documents about public figures. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services website contains an electronic reading room with immigration files of notable individuals such as Shyamala Gopalan Harris, mother of US Vice-President Kamala Harris, and celebrities like George Michael and John Lennon.
Nile Gardiner, a director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation, highlighted the broader implications of the issue: "This is a much bigger issue than Prince Harry. It is about enforcing immigration law and ensuring that no one is above the law. Prince Harry is simply the tip of the iceberg." He added that the current administration's perceived laxity in implementing immigration laws is a concern for many.
Neither the US Department of Homeland Security nor the Sussexes' Archewell organization responded to requests for comment on Prince Harry's immigration status.