Heritage Foundation Sent Dossier on Harry's Drug Use

In March 2023, the Heritage Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based conservative think tank, initiated a legal effort to obtain Prince Harry’s U.S. immigration records, focusing on whether the Duke of Sussex disclosed past drug use during his visa application process. The request followed disclosures in his memoir Spare, published in January 2023, where Prince Harry wrote about previous use of substances including cocaine, cannabis, and psychedelic drugs. The organization filed a request under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), seeking access to records held by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Heritage Foundation argued that the case raised questions about the consistent application of U.S. immigration law, particularly whether Prince Harry may have received “preferential treatment” when entering or residing in the country. U.S. visa applications typically require applicants to answer questions regarding past drug use, which can affect admissibility decisions, although waivers may be granted under certain conditions. In response, the Department of Homeland Security declined to release the requested records, citing federal privacy protections that restrict disclosure of personal immigration information. The dispute led to legal proceedings in U.S. federal court, where the Heritage Foundation sought to compel the release of documents or clarification on whether standard procedures had been followed. Government lawyers maintained that releasing such records without consent would violate privacy laws, regardless of the individual’s public profile. The case became part of a broader public discussion about transparency, privacy, and the treatment of high-profile individuals under U.S. immigration rules. As of 2024, court proceedings and related filings continued to address the balance between public interest claims and statutory privacy protections governing immigration records.