Prince Harry might soon face the release of his confidential immigration records. This could happen after President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, which makes it more likely that the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, will succeed in gaining access to Harry’s visa documents. This battle has been ongoing for some time, but the change in administration could shift things in the Foundation’s favor.
The issue began when Prince Harry admitted in his 2023 memoir to using drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, and other substances. U.S. immigration laws require applicants to disclose any history with illegal drugs, which the Heritage Foundation argues could have made Harry ineligible to enter the country. The think tank then sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) when they refused to release his immigration records under the Freedom of Information Act.
In September, a judge ruled to keep the records private, but with Trump’s re-election, the Heritage Foundation is optimistic about appealing the decision. Nile Gardiner, a director at the Heritage Foundation, believes that under the new administration, there’s a strong chance that Harry’s immigration application will be reviewed and his records made public.
Gardiner argues that releasing these records would send a clear message about upholding the law equally for everyone. He also noted that if Harry truly has nothing to hide, he should support the release of his files. According to Gardiner, the Biden administration had been protective of Harry, but this will likely change after Trump takes office.
The tension between Trump and Prince Harry goes back to 2016 when Trump called Meghan Markle, Harry’s wife, “nasty” after she criticized him. Trump has since said that if he won a second term, he would not protect Harry because he felt Harry had “betrayed the Queen” by stepping away from royal duties. Trump has also suggested that he would take action if it’s found that Harry lied on his visa application.
As the Trump administration begins, the push for transparency is likely to grow. With a Republican-controlled Congress, there could be mounting pressure to make Harry’s immigration records public in the coming year. This ongoing legal battle could soon lead to more revelations about the Duke of Sussex’s U.S. visa status.
