Will Prince Harry be deported from the U.S? Calls mount on Donald Trump to release his immigration file

Following allegations of past drug use in his memoir, the debate over Prince Harry's immigration status in the United States has heated up.

Agencies
There are growing calls for Trump to make Prince Harry's immigration file public, which could lead to his deportation. A conservative think tank has demanded that President Trump make Prince Harry's immigration file public following claims that the Duke of Sussex may have made false statements about his history of using illegal drugs when leaving the United Kingdom.

Could Prince Harry face deportation?

After the exiled British royal family member admitted to using cocaine, cannabis, and psychedelic mushrooms in his 2023 memoir, "Spare," Trump, 78, promised on the 2024 campaign trail that he would take appropriate action in response to any false claims on official forms. This legal battle has already been triggered by Harry's immigration status.

Last year, a federal judge decided against disclosing the prince's application documents. Normally, applicants for visas or green cards must disclose their history of drug use; if they are dishonest, they risk severe repercussions, including removal, as quoted in a report by The NY Post.


Attorneys and fellows at the Heritage Foundation are now hoping that the 47th president will open the records himself, overturning the court's decision to keep them sealed.

Nile Gardiner, director of Heritage's Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, stated that he will be pressing the president to make Prince Harry's immigration records public, and the president does have that legal authority to do that.

Because it concerns accountability, transparency, and the rule of law, it is significant. No one should be above the law, Gardiner said Wednesday in an interview with The Post.
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He went on to say that Donald Trump is bringing in a new era of strict border control enforcement, and you know, Prince Harry should be held fully accountable as he has admitted to extensive illegal drug use." "I firmly expect that something will be done about it.

This past February, the Heritage Foundation sued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeking access to Harry's visa documents under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in order to ascertain whether he made false claims regarding his drug use.

The 40-year-old prince admitted in his tell-all to trying cocaine for the first time as a 17-year-old to feel different" following the death of his mother, Princess Diana. Trump in March 2024 said he would have to see if DHS was aware of the admission, which was revealed years after Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, settled in Montecito, Calif., with their two children in January 2020.

Heritage lawyer Samuel Dewey filed another motion in October to try to overturn the ruling, claiming in part that the publication of the immigration file "will help the public better understand how the Department conducts itself and how its officials exercise discretion."
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The Biden administration went to great lengths to try and prevent the release of Harry's records, wondering whether the prince and his wife had received "special treatment" for their liberal political advocacy.


FAQs

Why is there a debate about Prince Harry's immigration status?
In his memoir, Prince Harry admitted to past drug use, sparking allegations that he misrepresented his history on U.S. immigration forms, prompting legal challenges and calls for transparency.
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Can Prince Harry be deported?
If it is determined that Harry made false statements on immigration forms, he may face consequences. However, experts believe waivers or discretion from US immigration authorities could resolve the situation.
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