Prince Harry has found himself in hot water as his US visa status comes under scrutiny following his confession of drug use.
The Duke of Sussex publicly acknowledged using cocaine, cannabis, and magic mushrooms, prompting the right-wing think tank, the Heritage Foundation, to demand transparency regarding his visa application.
Concerns have been raised about whether Prince Harry disclosed his drug use, as US immigration law imposes severe penalties for providing false information to immigration officials, including deportation and a ban on applying for citizenship.
Nima Rahmani, the president of West Coast Trial Lawyers and a former federal prosecutor, cautioned Prince Harry that his royal status would not grant him any special treatment concerning his US visa application.
Rahmani emphasized that admitting to drug use typically results in inadmissibility, indicating that Prince Harry’s visa should have been either denied or revoked based on his drug use disclosure.
He stressed that there are no exemptions for royalty or casual drug use, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
The Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project director, Mike Howell, has formally requested the release of Prince Harry’s US visa application to the public.
Howell justified the request by citing the public interest in understanding the potential consequences of Prince Harry’s drug use on his visa status, as well as questioning the thoroughness of the vetting process before his entry into the US.
However, the US State Department spokesperson cited the confidentiality of visa records under the Immigration and Nationality Act, preventing the disclosure of specific details related to individual visa cases.
Earlier this year, GB News reported that despite Prince Harry’s revelations about drug use in his memoir, he was likely to retain his US visa.
Laura Devine Immigration, a prominent legal firm, downplayed the impact of Prince Harry’s admissions on his visa eligibility, particularly emphasizing that drug use before the age of 18 should not hinder his visa status.
Christy Jackson, the Head of US Immigration, explained that for drug use to affect visa eligibility, the admission must meet specific legal criteria, such as being made under oath and recorded, rather than merely mentioned in a book or the news.
Jackson clarified that admissions made over the age of 18, if proven valid and made under oath, could potentially complicate visa matters if questioned by US Customs or Border Patrol.
However, she underscored the importance of the context and legality of admissions, stating that a mere mention of drug use without meeting the legal standards for admission would not automatically impact visa eligibility.
Prince Harry’s case has sparked debate over the intersection of personal disclosures and visa requirements, shedding light on the complexities of maintaining visa integrity amid public scrutiny.
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