Immigrantdocuments of Prince Harry to be unveiled due to a legal battle with a conservative intellect group
In an unexpected turn of events, Prince Harry's immigration records are set to be unveiled by the end of this Tuesday. This revelation follows a court order issued by a US District Court judge last week, compelling the Department of Homeland Security to disclose the Duke of Sussex's immigration documents.
The push for Harry's immigration records stems from a lawsuit filed by The Heritage Foundation, a renowned conservative think tank. Their initial request for the documents under the Freedom of Information Act was previously declined by the DHS. The organization argues that the public has a stake in knowing whether Harry was thoroughly vetted before entering the United States given his candid discussions of past drug use in his memoir.
In the pages of his memoir, 'Spare,' Harry openly talks about his past recreational drug use, including cocaine, cannabis, and psychedelic mushrooms. His writings have stirred questions about whether he truthfully disclosed this information during his visa application process, as admissions of drug use can potentially lead to visa rejections.
Samuel Dewey, an attorney representing The Heritage Foundation, previously explained to CNN that their focus is solely on the drug use issue. "He's talked about, he's written about it extensively. He has waived any privacy interest he has in his drug use. He has bragged about it and sold that," Dewey said.
The court documents filed by The Heritage Foundation suggest that there are only a handful of ways Prince Harry could have entered the United States in March 2020. They argue that he might have been in possession of a diplomatic visa, but this seems improbable given his royal status. Alternatively, he might have honestly disclosed his past drug use and sought a waiver of admission - a process that typically takes several years. However, the group alleges that Harry might have been admitted without a waiver, which they consider unlawful.
The Heritage Foundation contends that Harry's conduct could have violated numerous laws, making him ineligible for admission. However, immigration attorney Charles Kuck argues that this case is more about scrutinizing the Department of Homeland Security's conduct rather than targeting Prince Harry specifically.
Kuck states that immigration files are under the protection of The Privacy Act of 1974, and he finds it alarming that a federal court has allowed a private entity to access immigration files. He fears that this decision could set a dangerous precedent if federal courts start allowing individual citizens to request immigration files of other citizens and residents.
If the court-ordered documents are indeed released, they may include Prince Harry's I-485 form, the Application to Register Permanent Residence, his wife's petition for him, financial information, work history, and supporting documents with marriage pictures. The I-485 form questionably asks, "Have you ever violated any controlled substance law or regulation of a state, the United States, or a foreign country?" This question has sparked debates at the Board of Immigration Appeals, as respondents struggle to interpret the question's implications.
President Trump previously stated that he has no plans to deport Prince Harry, who resides in Montecito, California, with his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. Despite this, Trump expressed his disapproval of Meghan, calling her "terrible."
- The Heritage Foundation, in a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, argued that the public has a stake in knowing whether Prince Harry truthfully disclosed his past drug use during his visa application process, given the potential implications of his candid discussions of drug use in his memoir, and the ensuing court order could lead to the release of Prince Harry's I-485 form.
- Samuel Dewey, an attorney representing The Heritage Foundation, stated that their focus is solely on the drug use issue, as Prince Harry has waived any privacy interest he has in his drug use by openly discussing it in his memoir.
- If the court-ordered documents are indeed released, they may include Prince Harry's I-485 form, the Application to Register Permanent Residence, which questionably asks if he has ever violated any controlled substance law or regulation. This question has sparked debates at the Board of Immigration Appeals, as respondents struggle to interpret the question's implications.
