Prince Harry’s visa drug case ‘terminated’ quietly: What we know
A lawsuit challenging Prince Harry‘s US visa status, stemming from his admissions of past drug use, was unexpectedly dismissed on September 9. The case, filed by the Heritage Foundation, sought to compel the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release the Duke of Sussex’s visa documents following his revelations in a memoir about drug use.
The order is sealed meaning it has not been made public.It’s unclear which way the judge ruled.
But Newsweek reported that the case has been dropped meaning that the public will almost certainly never see Harry’s immigration paperwork.
The conservative think tank argued that Harry’s acknowledgment of using drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, magic mushrooms, and ayahuasca in his autobiography should have disqualified him from residing and working in the US, known for its stringent anti-drug laws.
Despite the lawsuit’s aim, court records show that sealed orders were filed and the case was terminated before a final decision could be made by Judge Carl J. Nichols in Washington, DC The specific reasons behind the sudden termination remain unclear, leaving the public uncertain about whether Harry’s visa records will remain confidential.
In March 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to the US after stepping back from their royal duties. His memoir, which detailed his past drug use, raised concerns about potential immigration repercussions. The Heritage Foundation’s legal filings criticized Harry for admitting to drug use “for immense profit,” suggesting it could negatively impact his immigration status.
According to the Newsweek, Heritage lawyers wrote in filings related to the case: “[The case] comes about in the main because HRH [His Royal Highness] voluntarily—and for immense profit—admitted in writing to the elements of any number of controlled substance violations. (Indeed, some say HRH has approached the point of bragging and encouraging illegal drug use.)
“The Duke of Sussex did so despite the fact that it is widely known that such admissions can have adverse immigration consequences for non-citizens and despite employing preeminent legal advisors on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Judge Nichols had previously ordered a private review of Harry’s visa records, with the Biden administration complying. The case’s abrupt end and the issuance of sealed orders leave open the possibility that further details might emerge in the future.
The order is sealed meaning it has not been made public.It’s unclear which way the judge ruled.
But Newsweek reported that the case has been dropped meaning that the public will almost certainly never see Harry’s immigration paperwork.
The conservative think tank argued that Harry’s acknowledgment of using drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, magic mushrooms, and ayahuasca in his autobiography should have disqualified him from residing and working in the US, known for its stringent anti-drug laws.
Despite the lawsuit’s aim, court records show that sealed orders were filed and the case was terminated before a final decision could be made by Judge Carl J. Nichols in Washington, DC The specific reasons behind the sudden termination remain unclear, leaving the public uncertain about whether Harry’s visa records will remain confidential.
In March 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to the US after stepping back from their royal duties. His memoir, which detailed his past drug use, raised concerns about potential immigration repercussions. The Heritage Foundation’s legal filings criticized Harry for admitting to drug use “for immense profit,” suggesting it could negatively impact his immigration status.
According to the Newsweek, Heritage lawyers wrote in filings related to the case: “[The case] comes about in the main because HRH [His Royal Highness] voluntarily—and for immense profit—admitted in writing to the elements of any number of controlled substance violations. (Indeed, some say HRH has approached the point of bragging and encouraging illegal drug use.)
“The Duke of Sussex did so despite the fact that it is widely known that such admissions can have adverse immigration consequences for non-citizens and despite employing preeminent legal advisors on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Judge Nichols had previously ordered a private review of Harry’s visa records, with the Biden administration complying. The case’s abrupt end and the issuance of sealed orders leave open the possibility that further details might emerge in the future.
