U.S. officials reject request to release Prince Harry's U.S. visa files but conservative think-tank threatens to sue and blasts 'zero transparency Biden administration'

U.S. officials have rejected a request to make Prince Harry's visa file public. Lawyers from the Heritage Foundation had sought to expedite the Department of Homeland Security's response to their Freedom of Information Act request concerning Prince Harry's visa application. However, Judge Carl Nichols declined to issue an injunction and urged the government to provide a clear response to the think-tank's request. Subsequently, the DHS senior director, Jimmy Wolfrey, sent a letter refusing to confirm or deny the existence of Prince Harry's visa file. Wolfrey stated that, if such records exist, the office does not believe there is enough public interest to override the subject's privacy concerns.

Prince Harry appeared at the High Court in London last week to give evidence in a phone hacking case against a left-wing British tabloid

The merits of releasing Prince Harry's visa application were not discussed during the recent hearing in Washington, D.C. As a result, the conservative think-tank, the Heritage Foundation, may pursue additional legal avenues to compel the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release the requested files.

Nile Gardiner, a representative of the Heritage Foundation, expressed anger and criticized the decision in an online statement. Gardiner claimed that the argument made by the DHS regarding the lack of public interest in disclosure was nonsensical and attributed it to what he called the "zero transparency" approach of the Biden Administration.

The statement from the former senior aide to ex-British PM Margaret Thatcher, Nile Gardiner, emphasizes the Heritage Foundation's dissatisfaction with the Department of Homeland Security's handling of their Freedom of Information request. Gardiner deems the DHS's efforts to withhold the requested information as unacceptable, and he stated that the Heritage Foundation intends to challenge their position.

Nile Gardiner, a former aide to ex-British PM Margaret Thatcher, lashed out at the Biden administration for its 'zero transparency' stance

The Heritage Foundation seeks to uncover how Prince Harry responded to questions regarding his past drug use in his visa application. Prince Harry's admission of taking illegal substances in his memoir, 'Spare,' raises concerns, as under U.S. law, such admissions can potentially lead to the dismissal of a visa application.

This is the section of the visa application that Prince Harry would have had to fill in order to get into the United States

Since stepping back from the British Royal Family in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, have established themselves as public figures in the United States. They were last seen together in the UK at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September, several months before the publication of 'Spare.'

The Heritage Foundation argues that the details contained in Prince Harry's visa application could potentially create difficulties for his future life in the United States. However, it is important to note that an admission of drug use does not automatically result in a lifetime ban from entering the United States. In some cases, a denial of entry can be overturned through an in-person interview at a U.S. consulate or official immigration office, where a waiver can be issued.

Prince Harry admitted to taking drugs in his memoir Spare, which was released at the start of the year

Authorities have previously released immigration documents about public figures, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website has an electronic reading room that includes the files of certain celebrities. For example, the records of late musicians George Michael and John Lennon, as well as the mother of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, can be found online.

Since Prince Harry's arrival in the United States in 2020, he has developed friendships with prominent Democratic Party figures, including former President Barack Obama. He is also known to be close to major Democratic donors such as Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, which has led to concerns that he may unwittingly become involved in a highly political situation.

For further information or official statements, it is advisable to reach out to the Department of Homeland Security or a spokesperson for Prince Harry.