Court files relating to Prince Harry’s immigration to the United States have been heavily redacted, with concerns raised about the potential for unwanted media attention. The release of these documents was ordered by Judge Carl Nichols as part of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington, DC.
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The Heritage Foundation’s request followed Prince Harry’s admission of past drug use, including cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms, in his memoir Spare. The think tank questioned why he was granted entry to the United States in 2020 despite these revelations. Judge Nichols ruled that the US Department of Homeland Security must release the redacted files by Tuesday, 15 March, although these documents remain heavily censored.
The heavily edited files reveal that the decision to withhold the full immigration records was based on privacy concerns. The documents state that disclosing Prince Harry’s exact immigration status could expose him to harassment and unwanted media attention. They also note that there is no compelling public interest to warrant the full disclosure of these records. The Heritage Foundation’s arguments about public confidence and potential preferential treatment were dismissed as speculative without evidence of government misconduct.
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In February, President Donald Trump ruled out the possibility of deporting Prince Harry, saying he would “leave him alone”. Trump also criticised the Duke’s wife, Meghan Markle, calling her “terrible”. The Duchess has previously described Trump as a “divisive” figure and a “misogynist”.
