Harry’s Immigration Files Released: Prince Off the Hook?

FILE - Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, cheers with Team Lithuania during Sitting Volleyball at the 2025 Invictus Games, in Vancouver, on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP, file)

Prince Harry’s immigration files and status in the U.S. remains a mystery despite a legal battle demanding transparency. The Trump administration dismissed claims of special treatment, insisting his visa followed all regulations.

Legal battle over Prince Harry’s visa

On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released heavily redacted documents in response to a lawsuit by the Heritage Foundation. The conservative think tank alleged that Harry may have lied about drug use on his visa application.

However, the actual immigration file remains sealed. DHS justified the secrecy, citing privacy laws and potential harassment concerns.

Redacted documents reveal little

The six documents released contain entire pages blacked out. DHS claimed disclosing details could expose Harry to harm. Officials insisted there was no preferential treatment, but critics argue the redactions only fuel speculation.

Judge Carl Nichols, who initially denied full disclosure, later reversed course. He pledged to release as much information as possible, though the key details remain hidden.

Harry’s drug use admission sparks visa questions

Harry openly admitted to using cannabis, cocaine, and magic mushrooms in his memoir Spare and Netflix series. If he disclosed this in his visa application, he could have faced further scrutiny or even been denied entry.

Heritage Foundation argues that the American public deserves to know whether Harry was truthful about his past. The Biden administration’s DHS, however, maintains that releasing his visa details would be an unwarranted invasion of privacy.

Trump’s stance on Harry’s residency

Speculation has swirled over whether Donald Trump might revoke Harry’s visa. Initially, Trump suggested he wouldn’t protect him, fueling rumors of deportation.

However, last month he changed his position, saying he wouldn’t expel Harry because Meghan Markle is “terrible” and “he’s got enough problems with his wife.”

Heritage foundation demands full release

Nile Gardiner, a director at the Heritage Foundation, insists the fight is far from over. He argues the American people deserve clarity.

“These documents do not alter the big picture,” Gardiner said. “Harry’s visa application needs to be released in full.”

He blasted the Biden administration for redacting crucial details, calling it a lack of transparency. He also hinted that a Trump administration might fully unseal Harry’s immigration records.

Will Trump expose Harry’s visa secrets?

DHS argues that releasing the records would amount to a political “fishing expedition.” But with mounting pressure, the question remains: will Trump declassify Harry’s immigration files if re-elected?

For now, Harry’s status in the U.S. remains an open question, and the battle over his immigration files is far from over.

Herbert Bauernebel

Herbert Bauernebel has been reporting from New York since 1999 and currently works for Bild.de, OE24 TV, and US Live. He also runs the news portal AmerikaReport.de. Bauernebel has covered nearly all major US events of the past quarter-century, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s election, Donald Trump’s surprise victory, the pandemic, last year’s election showdown, as well as natural disasters such as hurricanes and oil spills. He has also reported firsthand on international events, including the Asian tsunami, the Haiti earthquake, and the Fukushima disaster. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and holds degrees in communication and political science from the University of Vienna. Bauernebel is the author of a book about his experiences on 9/11, And the Air Was Full of Ash: 9/11 – The Day That Changed My Life.