Prince Harry is 'tip of iceberg' as US urged to show 'no one is above the law' in major crackdown

Prince Harry

The Duke of Sussex admitted to taking drugs in his autobiography Spare

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Svar Nanan-Sen

By Svar Nanan-Sen


Published: 04/04/2023

- 15:31

The Duke of Sussex admitted to taking drugs in his autobiography Spare

Prince Harry has been labelled the "tip of the iceberg" as his US visa faces scrutiny following his admission of taking drugs.

The Duke of Sussex has publicly admitted to taking multiple drugs, including cocaine, cannabis and magic mushrooms.


This has led to right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation calling for Harry's visa application to be released so the American taxpayer can understand whether the Duke declared his drug use.

US immigration law has harsh penalties for lying to immigration officials, including deportation and being barred from applying for citizenship.

Prince Harry

US immigration law has harsh penalties for lying to immigration officials, including deportation and being barred from applying for citizenship.

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Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Centre for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation told the Times: "This is a much bigger issue than Prince Harry.

"It is about enforcing immigration law and ensuring that no one is above the law. Prince Harry is the tip of the iceberg."

It comes as Mike Howell, director of the Heritage Foundation's Oversight Project submitted a request for Prince Harry's US visa application to be made public.

Howell said: "This request is in the public interest in light of the potential revocation of Prince Harry’s visa for illicit substance use and further questions regarding the Prince’s drug use and whether he was properly vetted before entering the United States".

However, a US State Department spokesman said: "Visa records are confidential under Section 222(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA); therefore, we cannot discuss the details of individual visa cases."

In January, GB News reported that Prince Harry looked set to keep his US visa despite writing about taking drugs in his memoir.

A lawyer at leading firm Laura Devine Immigration told GB News that the admissions will not be enough to affect Prince Harry's eligibility for a US visa.

Head of US Immigration Christi Jackson said: "Anything that he has admitted to regarding drug use before the age of 18 should not affect his eligibility for a US visa.

Prince Harry

In January, GB News reported that Prince Harry looked set to keep his US visa despite writing about taking drugs in his memoir

PA

"If he had admitted to drug use when he was over 18, in order for it to lead to visa ineligibility, the admission would have to have been a valid admission which means it cannot just be out in the news or written in their book.

"You have to show that the person has provided the definition and admitted to all essential elements of the crime while under oath. Making a statement in a book is not going to be considered a valid admission."

She continued: "So who you’re admitting it to is what makes all the difference. A legally valid admission must be made under oath and recorded.

"If he had admitted to using drugs over the age of 18, that could have possibly led to visa complications if he had been then questioned by US Customs or Border Patrol."

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