Royal Family News
Prince Harry’s US visa application has been the subject of controversy after the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, demanded that it be made public.
The foundation claims that the American taxpayer has a right to know whether Harry declared his drug use prior to moving to the United States with his wife, Meghan Markle, in 2020.
The Duke of Sussex admitted to taking drugs in a recent TV interview, stating that they helped him cope with trauma.
US immigration law imposes harsh penalties for lying to officials, including deportation and being barred from applying for citizenship.
The Heritage Foundation has compiled a dossier of evidence, including Harry's admissions in his memoir and various TV interviews, and sent it to the Department of Homeland Security, US Customs and Border Protection, and US Citizenship Immigration Services to bolster their freedom of information request.
However, US officials have so far refused to release the visa application citing privacy concerns.
Mike Howell, director of the Heritage Oversight Project, insists that it is in the public interest to know how Harry's case was handled and has appealed the decision.
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Harry's attendance at his father's coronation in the UK in May could potentially further complicate the matter.
If he were to leave the country, his visa would likely be under scrutiny upon re-entry to the US.
It is unclear at this juncture whether DHS complied with the law if in admitting Prince Harry did so without a waiver or any interview with CBP to assess whether given his history, he was admissible to the United States.
The Heritage Foundation has also demanded to see any emails, texts, WhatsApp messages, or other correspondence related to Harry's visa to ensure public confidence in how it was handled.
Public confidence in the government would undoubtedly suffer if DHS, CBP, and USCIS failed to properly vet such a high-profile case.
Moreover, if Prince Harry was granted preferential treatment, that too would undermine public confidence in the DHS, the CPB, and USCIS's application of equal justice under the law.
It has long been speculated that Harry could be working in the US on a fast-track visa handed to people with extraordinary ability known as a Zero-One visa.
Zero-One, also used by Canadian singer Justin Bieber and Australian actor Hugh Jackman, lasts for three years, meaning that Harry's renewal could be due within weeks.
The Heritage Foundation claims that if Harry failed to disclose his narcotics usage during the application process, he should have been denied residency in the US.
The controversy surrounding Harry's visa application arises as the public questions whether he admitted to recreational drug use prior to moving to the US.
The Heritage Foundation claims that his visa application must now be released so that the American taxpayer can understand whether Harry declared his drug use.
The foundation is currently in the middle of a battle with Washington DC officials, who are staunchly refusing to publish any details, including any texts or emails citing the Duke of Sussex's privacy.
Harry's admission to taking drugs in a recent TV interview has sparked widespread media interest.
The Heritage Foundation has compiled a dossier of evidence, including Harry's own admissions in his memoir and various TV interviews about taking drugs.
The foundation insists that it is in the public interest to know how Harry's case was handled and has appealed the decision to withhold the visa application.
US immigration law imposes harsh penalties for lying to officials, including deportation and being barred from applying for citizenship.