Officials claim that attempts by a think tank to reveal these details are nothing more than inflammatory allegations. However, the organization argues that this is simply a delaying tactic.
Critics have denounced the US government's refusal as outrageous, citing Prince Harry's right to privacy as the reason.
The controversy arose when a campaign group called The Heritage Foundation (HF) sought to uncover whether Prince Harry had made false statements about his drug use in his immigration papers. These allegations were openly acknowledged by Prince Harry in his memoir and the Netflix series about his life.
The Heritage Foundation utilized the US Freedom of Information Act to request relevant documents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Concerns were raised that Prince Harry may have provided inaccurate information on his entry forms, which, if proven, could lead to his expulsion from the United States.
Initially, the Department of Homeland Security denied the Heritage Foundation's request, prompting the organization to file a lawsuit in a Washington Court challenging the decision. The group accuses the government of employing delaying tactics and deems their actions outrageous, as reported by The Sun.
While the US government claims that HF's arguments are merely inflammatory allegations, HF argues that these allegations are an attempt to divert attention from the actual issue. They also accuse the government of engaging in delaying behavior to avoid addressing the problem promptly.
The Heritage Foundation urges a swift decision on the continuation of the case, but the DHS reluctantly agreed to extend the timeline. The applications are now expected to be reviewed until November, followed by a judge's decision.
In its second denial, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the existence of entry and exit records for Prince Harry. However, the ministry declined to provide further details, stating that despite being a public figure, Prince Harry is entitled to certain privacy rights. The department argues that disclosing the records would be an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. They make it clear that strong evidence of government wrongdoing would be required to justify their release, rather than mere suspicion of misconduct.
Neil Gardner, the director of The Heritage Foundation's Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, submitted a freedom of information request. Immigration experts have suggested that Prince Harry's admissions of drug use could potentially lead to a refusal of entry by US border agents. Prince Harry himself has chosen not to comment on the ongoing affair.
The Department of Homeland Security explains that information that may have subjected a traveler to further scrutiny at one time could be deemed inappropriate and irrelevant at a later time. They emphasize that one person's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) entry and exit records, even those of a famous individual, are not sufficient evidence to undermine public confidence in the CBP's enforcement of equal fairness under the law.
