The decision to reject the request has been strongly criticized as "outrageous" by a senior official at The Heritage Foundation.
The Heritage Foundation, which initiated the fast-track request, has now appealed to a judge to overturn the decision made by the Department of Homeland Security and two of its agencies. A new hearing is scheduled for next month.
Following the Duke of Sussex's admission of drug use in his autobiography "Spare," The Heritage Foundation demanded the immediate release of Prince Harry's visa records.
Under US Freedom of Information laws, applications can be expedited if there is "widespread and exceptional media interest in which there exist possible questions about the government's integrity which affect public confidence."
The Heritage Foundation argued that the Prince Harry case met the criteria for fast-tracking, but it was denied on the grounds that British-based publishers, who had sought answers regarding the visa application, did not have sufficient prominence in the US.
Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Centre for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation, criticized the situation, stating, "The Biden administration is clearly obstructing the process and attempting to avoid the release of any documents. They are doing so by undermining the credibility of the British Press, which is unacceptable, despite our submission of articles on the same subject to the US press."
Prince Harry has openly admitted to using various drugs, including cocaine, cannabis, and magic mushrooms. According to a source close to the Duke of Sussex, he did inform US officials about his drug use. The Duke of Sussex relocated to the US in 2020 with his wife Meghan Markle.
Typically, individuals who immigrate to America are granted a three-year visa, which means that Harry will need to apply for a new visa, a Green Card, or citizenship this year. A new visa application could potentially lead to further scrutiny of the Duke of Sussex's drug use.
US immigration law imposes severe penalties for providing false information to immigration officials, including deportation and being barred from applying for citizenship.
