政府はヘンリー王子ビザ問題に対応を　米連邦地裁

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】米首都ワシントンの連邦地方裁判所は６日、保守系シンクタンク「ヘリテージ財団」が英国のヘンリー王子（３８）の入国記録の開示を求めていることについて、国土安全保障省に対し、１３日までに対応するよう命じた。ヘンリー王子は自伝で違法薬物の使用を認めているが、ビザ（査証）を発給されている。（写真は英ロンドンの裁判所に到着したヘンリー王子）
　ヘンリー王子はこの日、大衆紙による電話盗聴などの被害を訴えている件をめぐり、英ロンドンの裁判所で証言をしていた。
　米国籍の妻メーガン妃と共に王室離脱後、２０２０年１月に米国に移住したヘンリー王子は、自伝「スペア（原題）」で過去にマリフアナ（大麻）やコカイン、幻覚剤を摂取したことを赤裸々につづっている。
　ヘリテージ財団は情報公開法に基づいて国土安全保障省に情報開示を求めている。同財団は連邦地裁への訴状で、「米国の法律では一般的に、このような人物の入国は認められていない」と指摘。この件は「公益性があり、メディアの関心も集めている」としている。
　また、過去の薬物使用を理由に入国を拒否された著名人として、サッカー界のレジェンド、ディエゴ・マラドーナさんや歌手のエイミー・ワインハウスさんを例に挙げている。
　政府は「記録を公開する切実な必要性があるとは今のところ確信できない」と回答。国土安全保障省の２支部はこれまで、王子の同意がないとして開示を拒否していた。
　米国のビザ申請には過去の薬物使用についての質問項目があり、入国を禁じられる可能性があるが、例外が認められるケースもある。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/06/08-16:56）

A conservative US think tank urged a federal judge on Tuesday to order the release of the immigration records of Britain's Prince Harry, who was awarded a visa despite the admission in his memoir that he had used illegal drugs.
Lawyers for the Washington-based Heritage Foundation are seeking the release of the records from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
This is obviously a case about Prince Harry, Samuel Dewey, a lawyer for the Heritage Foundation, said at the hearing. But it's truly about DHS and its compliance to the law.
The 38-year-old Harry was not in court -- he was in London's High Court on Tuesday complaining about the incredibly invasive media coverage that he has endured from the British press.
The younger son of Britain's King Charles III accuses Mirror Group Newspapers -- publisher of The Mirror, Sunday Mirror and the Sunday People tabloids -- of illegal information gathering, including phone hacking.
Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, an American citizen, moved to the United States in January 2020 after stepping away from their royal duties.
In the complaint being heard here in US District Court, the Heritage Foundation noted that Harry has publicly admitted to the essential elements of a number of drug offenses in both the United States and abroad.
United States law generally renders such a person inadmissible for entry to the United States, the complaint says.
In his book Spare, Harry admitted to experimenting with drugs including marijuana, cocaine and psychedelics.
In arguing for the release of Harry's immigration file, the Heritage Foundation said there is widespread public and press interest in the case.
The Heritage Foundation noted that other celebrities such as the late football star Maradona and the late singer Amy Winehouse had been denied entry into the United States because of past drug use.
In its response, the government said that while there may be some public interest in the records sought, it is not presently convinced there is a compelling need to release the records.
Two branches of the DHS have previously declined to release the prince's immigration file without his consent.
Visa applicants to the United States are asked about their past drug use and can be barred from entry, although there are exceptions and waivers can be granted.
Judge Carl Nichols gave the DHS until June 13 to come up with a response to the records request.