Prince Harry’s U.S. Visa Records Released – But Heavily Redacted

“No Evidence of Special Treatment” – U.S. Officials Defend Privacy Protections

Government Discloses Court Documents in Heritage Foundation’s Lawsuit Over Harry’s Immigration Status

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🔹 U.S. Releases Prince Harry’s Visa Documents – But With Heavy Redactions

The U.S. government has released court documents related to Prince Harry’s 2020 visa application, following a lawsuit filed by the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation. However, large portions of the documents were blacked out, with officials citing privacy protections and a lack of evidence of preferential treatment.

🔹 Over 80 pages of court filings and transcripts released
🔹 Significant sections redacted to protect Harry’s personal information
🔹 No evidence that the Duke of Sussex received special immigration privileges

The case stems from questions over whether Prince Harry disclosed his past drug use—which he openly admitted in his memoir Spare—when applying for a U.S. visa.

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🔹 Government Stands Firm: No Wrongdoing in Harry’s Visa Process

The Heritage Foundation, which had filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, argued that the public had the right to know whether the British royal had fully disclosed his history of drug use, as U.S. immigration laws typically bar applicants who admit to past drug use.

📌 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rejected claims of misconduct
📌 Officials argued that Harry’s privacy rights outweighed public interest concerns
📌 No proof of government favoritism was found in the records

🗣️ “This speculation by Plaintiffs does not point to any evidence of government misconduct,” USCIS official Jarrod Panter wrote in the filings.

Despite persistent allegations, the Biden administration has maintained that Harry’s visa was handled like any other applicant’s, refusing to provide details on whether his past drug use was disclosed or considered in the process.

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🔹 The Drug Use Controversy: What Did Harry Reveal?

In his 2023 memoir Spare, Prince Harry openly admitted to using cocaine and marijuana in his younger years. His confessions sparked questions about whether his past drug use could have complicated his U.S. immigration status under federal law.

📌 U.S. law bars entry to applicants who admit to past drug use, unless granted a waiver
📌 It remains unclear whether Harry was granted any special exemption
📌 Heritage Foundation insists on full disclosure, citing “public confidence in government”

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California, where they continue to build their post-royal lives.

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🔹 What’s Next?

📌 The Heritage Foundation is expected to continue legal efforts to obtain unredacted records
📌 Immigration law experts debate whether past admissions in a memoir could trigger scrutiny
📌 Prince Harry’s legal team has not yet commented on the latest document release

With privacy concerns, political scrutiny, and immigration policy in focus, this case could set a precedent for public access to high-profile immigration records in the future.