The think tank that wants the release of Prince Harry’s US visa application has now made a new demand – just days after documents relating to the long-running legal battle were released

The battle over Prince Harry’s US visa looks set to rumble on with a new demand made in the row. The long-running saga was sparked when US conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation claimed Harry’s references to drug taking in his memoir Spare should merit the disclosure of his application to enter the country in 2020.

Documents relating to the case were made public last week, but much of them were heavily redacted, meaning the question regarding whether Harry checked the “no” box on the visa form concerning drug use remains unanswered. And now the think tank has demanded that next time Harry travels abroad and returns to the United States, he should be quizzed over his drug taking.

Nile Gardiner from the foundation told The Sun: “He should be questioned at the US border when he returns from wherever he travels. These drugs are illegal in the US. This is a new era of immigration enforcement in the US and the rules are being strictly enforced by the new US administration.”

US visa applications specifically ask the individual about current and past drug use, which can have a detrimental impact on the progress of the application. Prolific drug use can lead to applications being rejected, however, immigration officers use their discretion against a range of factors.

The reason for the heavy redactions in the release of documents relating to the case, as well as the fact that no details have been revealed about what is contained within Harry’s visa application, was explained last week.

A chief freedom of information officer within the US Department for Homeland Security (DHS) argued that releasing the material “would potentially expose the individual to harm from members of the public”.

The redacted pages of the document released relating to Prince Harry’s visa (Image: AP)

The declaration from Jarrod Panter, submitted to the court in April last year and revealed last Tuesday, read: “The USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) routinely protects from disclosure the non-immigrant/immigrant status sought by third parties who do not have permission from the beneficiary to receive this information.

“To release such information would potentially expose the individual to harm from members of the public who might have a reason to manipulate or harass individuals depending on their status in the United States.”

The declaration, which contained a number of redactions, added: “To release his exact status could subject him to reasonably foreseeable harm in the form of harassment as well as unwanted contact by the media and others.” The Heritage Foundation brought the lawsuit against the DHS after a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was rejected, with the think tank claiming it was of “immense public interest”.

In his controversial memoir, Harry said cocaine “didn’t do anything for me”, adding: “Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me.” In February, President Donald Trump ruled out deporting Harry from the US, telling The New York Post: “I’ll leave him alone.”

He added: “He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.” The Duchess of Sussex has previously been a vocal critic of former reality star Mr Trump and has called him “divisive” and a “misogynist”. Meghan said she was backing his rival Hillary Clinton in the 2016 US presidential election and suggested she would leave the US if he won.

Mr Trump said in a GB News interview with Nigel Farage in March last year that Harry should not receive preferential treatment. Asked if the duke should have “special privileges” if he was found to have lied on his application, Mr Trump said: “No. We’ll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied they’ll have to take appropriate action.”