Steube Introduces SPARE Act for Visa Applicants

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, described his past drug use in his memoir Spare, which has become the subject of a legal battle regarding his visa to the United States. Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) seemed inspired by the case to introduce the Substance and Possession Abuse Restrictions for Entrance Act (SPARE), which would deny visa applicants who lied about drug use on their applications entry and face deportation.

The lawsuit, filed by the Heritage Foundation, claimed that Harry lied on his application for a US visa which denied past drug use, only to detail it in his memoir, as mentioned. As such, the Heritage Foundation said Harry received preferential treatment from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While the BBC article notes immigration authorities have often introduced waivers for users which involve rehab programs, the case of Harry nonetheless provided the impetus for Rep. Steube's bill.

SPARE would require DHS to investigate credible instances of alien visa applicants knowingly providing false information about past drug use within 60 days. If the case is confirmed factual, the applicant will be deported and permanently barred from reentry. Moreover, waivers issued to applicants for past drug use can be subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

In his press release, Rep. Steube blasted the Biden Administration for its lack of action at the southern border and its seemingly preferential treatment of visa applicants. If such treatment of applicants happens, then "that information should not be hidden from the public."

"The Biden administration deliberately refuses to enforce our country’s immigration laws at the Southern border, and it appears they may be obstructing the fair and equal enforcement of our visa laws as well. Left-wing celebrities like Prince Harry, who have a self-recorded history of illegal drug use, should be subjected to the same standards and enforcement of our country’s immigration laws as any other alien. I introduced the SPARE Act because individuals should be deported immediately if they are caught lying on their visa application. If the Executive Branch is granting waivers on the basis of drug usage to individuals who enter the U.S., that information should not be hidden from the public. We must ensure no one receives preferential treatment behind closed doors," said Steube.