Prince Harry is facing a showdown over his US visa application just days after revealing he has considered American citizenship.
A United States think-tank is trying to force the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release Harry’s immigration records to see if he mentioned drug use.
When applying to live in the United States, applicants have to tick “yes” or “no” to the question “Are you or have you ever been a drug abuser or addict?”.
In his memoir Spare, the prince referenced taking cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative group, is now attempting to get the DHS to release Harry’s answer to the question.
Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Centre For Freedom at The Heritage Foundation, told MailOnline: “A judge has the final say on whether the American public has the right to see whether the DHS afforded Prince Harry special treatment. He can no longer hide behind his liberal elite allies in the Biden administration.”
In an interview with Good Morning America on Friday, the prince admitted he had considered American citizenship. However, experts believe this plan could be thrown into jeopardy depending on how he answered.
An immigration lawyer told MailOnline: “This could be very serious for Prince Harry. If he didn’t tick the ‘yes’ box when he entered the States then his visa will be reviewed and it is possible it could be revoked.
“If he is thinking of applying for citizenship, then having his visa revoked would be a disaster.”
The Heritage Foundation says Harry could have been granted a waiver if he ticked “yes” on his visa application. However, the group’s lawyer Samuel Dewey says they want to see “who granted that waiver” if one was signed.
The DHS has previously argued releasing the records would be an invasion of Harry’s privacy. Submissions made by lawyer John Bardo on behalf of DHS said no “publicly available information, shows that Prince Harry was ever convicted for a drug-related offence.”
The DHS also wrote: “Courts hold that a person’s visa or immigration status is private, personal information exempt from disclosure.”
Judge Carl J. Nichols will release a written ruling within weeks.
