Prince Harry immigration ruling: 'We expected to have to fight every step of this case'

Prince Harry has scored a legal win in a bid to release his immigration documents, with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rejecting the request.

In a letter emailed to the Heritage Foundation that requested the documents, the department said it "does not find a public interest in disclosure sufficient to override the subject's privacy interests."

The New York Post published a copy of the letter that was written by Jimmy Wolfrey, senior director of the department, and addressed to Mike Howell at the Heritage Foundation.

READ MORE: Royal baby news announced weeks after King Charles III's coronation

The foundation has requested the documents following Prince Harry's admissions of drug use in his best-selling memoir Spare, published in January. Applicants for US visas are required to admit to and explain past drug use.

Nile Gardiner from the Heritage Foundation told American media commentator Megyn Kelly he believes there is a "very clear public interest in the release of Prince Harry's application to reside in the United States" after the royal "admitted to wide spread and extensive drug use."

READ MORE: Diane's GP said she 'just had an infection'

"We believe the US public has the right those immigration records," he said during an appearance on The Megyn Kelly Show.

"Harry is, after all, one of the most famous individuals in the world, he is a household name now in the United States and is a huge public figure."

He said if Harry lied about his drug use, that calls his US visa into question. If he did admit to drug use on his application, Gardiner says the foundation "wants to know who intervened on his behalf."

Samuel Dewey, the Heritage Foundation's outside counsel, said the DHS response "shows an appalling lack of transparency by the Biden Administration."

"The Department of Homeland Security's efforts to stonewall the Heritage Foundation's Freedom of Information request are unacceptable, and we will be contesting their position," Dewey said.

"We expected to have to fight every step of this case in federal court and will continue to press for transparency and accountability for the American people."

READ MORE: 29 things you absolutely can't miss in The Iconic's EOFY sale

Harry's visa status is unknown, but as the spouse of a US citizen, he would be entitled to apply for permanent residence and as a person of importance, he would be eligible for several types of visas.

Mike Howell, director of the Heritage foundation's Oversight Project, submitted a Freedom Of Information Act request with DHS on March 8, 2023. Both sides initially met on June 6 with DHS required to respond by June 13.

The battle is now headed for federal court.