Prince Harry’s visa records will be made public today, with Donald Trump supporters telling MailOnline that the royal should voluntarily leave the US if the documents reveal he lied about his drug use.
Washington Judge Carl Nichols has ordered the release of previously unseen papers, offering the clearest indication yet of whether the Duke of Sussex disclosed his use of cannabis, cocaine, and magic mushrooms on his immigration forms.
Greg Swenson, Chairman of Republicans Overseas UK, told MailOnline that if the documents show he concealed the truth, Harry should leave the US to avoid the shame of legal proceedings.
The Department of State issued an official warning to visa holders, stating they will be deported if they fail to comply with “all U.S. laws and immigration regulations,” and that cases and documents are “constantly” under review.
Mr. Swenson remarked, “If Harry is here illegally, it would be hypocritical for him to receive special treatment, especially with the mass deportations happening now. The smartest thing for Harry would be to leave the US, avoid legal proceedings, and leave voluntarily.”
However, he predicted that President Trump is unlikely to intervene in the matter. “It probably won’t rank high enough as an issue. I don’t think he will get involved,” he said.
Judge Nichols has set a deadline for the release of the files by the end of Tuesday, and also approved redactions suggested by the Department of Homeland Security, calling them “appropriate.”
While the exact content of the released material is unclear, it could include forms showing whether Harry answered “no” when asked about drug use. It may also reveal the type of visa Harry was granted, with some experts speculating that he may have received the rare A-1 Head of State visa.
A judge has ruled that Prince Harry’s visa files must be made public by the end of Tuesday at the latest. Pictured: Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, gazes out at the crowd during the New York Times annual DealBook summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 4, 2024, in New York City.
Judge Carl Nichols has set a deadline for the release of the files, which will provide the clearest indication yet of whether the Duke of Sussex was dishonest on his immigration paperwork. Pictured: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, during a photo call to announce their engagement in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace.
Lawyers for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have previously stated that three items will be released with redactions, but a fourth will remain private.
The right-wing Heritage Foundation sued the DHS last year after the agency, which oversees immigration in the U.S., denied a Freedom of Information request for Harry’s files.
Heritage contends that Harry may have lied on his immigration forms, specifically in the section asking if he had used drugs.
In his memoir Spare and his Netflix series, Harry spoke about using cannabis, cocaine, and magic mushrooms.
In his ruling, Judge Carl Nichols, appointed by Donald Trump, stated: “The government has provided the court with its proposed redactions to the documents… those redactions appearing appropriate, the government is ORDERED to lodge on the docket the redacted versions of those documents no later than March 18, 2025.”
The case has caused embarrassment for Harry and raised concerns about the potential for deportation if he is found to have lied. However, President Trump recently stated he would not order Harry’s removal from the U.S., while criticizing Meghan, calling her “terrible.” Trump added that he was giving Harry a break because “he’s got enough problems with his wife.”
In September, Judge Nichols had rejected Heritage’s request to release all the documents, citing the Duke’s right to privacy. However, after a subsequent hearing, he reconsidered and expressed a desire to make as much of the material public as possible. “In my view that has to happen,” Judge Nichols said, emphasizing his intention to disclose the “maximum amount” of information.
However, he noted that Harry’s immigration status would not be revealed, suggesting that some files could contain heavy redactions.
Following the hearing, Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at Heritage, called on Trump to ensure the documents were made public.
The original request aimed to determine whether Harry, who relocated to the US after stepping down from his role as a working member of the British royal family, was receiving “preferential treatment.” Pictured: The Duke of Sussex attends the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit on September 23, 2024, in New York City.
He stated that the president had made “border security and the application of the rule of law a top priority.”
Harry has previously been open about his drug use, notably sharing that cannabis helped him cope with the trauma of his mother, Princess Diana’s death. The Duke also revealed that using the psychedelic drug ayahuasca led him to realize that his mother wanted him to be “happy.”
This raises questions about whether Harry’s U.S. visa application in March 2020 reflects his truthful answers on drug-related questions, with Heritage suggesting he may have checked “no” on the form regarding past drug use.
In earlier legal filings, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described the records in question as “particularly sensitive,” as they would “reveal Harry’s immigration status in the United States.”
DHS argued, “Even though he is a public figure, Prince Harry still maintains a privacy interest in these types of records and in his immigration or visa status generally.”
The agency continued, “Even if public figures may have a diminished expectation of privacy, they do not surrender their privacy interests entirely.”
The filing also emphasized that, without this protection, anyone could demand government records for any celebrity, effectively launching a “fishing expedition.”
The original request sought to determine whether Harry, who moved to the U.S. after stepping down from his role as a working member of the British royal family, was receiving “preferential treatment.”
DHS dismissed the Heritage Foundation’s claims, stating that it merely “recounted a litany of allegedly suspicious circumstances (that) lacked any substantiation.”
The DHS further characterized the Heritage Foundation’s allegations as a “bare suspicion of government misconduct” and argued that making Harry’s paperwork public would not offer any “meaningful light” on government operations.
Harry’s representatives have chosen not to comment on the case.
Will Prince Harry Lose His Visa and Be Kicked Out of the U.S.? What Could Happen as the Legal Drama Reaches Its Climax
A judge is poised to release potentially explosive documents regarding Prince Harry’s U.S. visa.
Judge Carl Nichols is set to make public three previously confidential papers related to the royal’s immigration status. These documents are expected to shed new light on the process by which the Duke of Sussex was granted a visa despite his admissions of drug use.
Why Are Questions Being Raised About Prince Harry’s U.S. Visa?
Five years ago, the Duke moved to the U.S. with his American wife, Meghan Markle.
Then, in 2023, he published his memoir Spare, in which he admitted to using drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, magic mushrooms, and the psychedelic drug ayahuasca.
When foreigners apply for U.S. visas, they are asked if they have ever abused drugs.
This has led to questions about what Harry might have answered on the form.
Sources close to the royal family have previously indicated that Harry answered truthfully, but critics have suggested this could imply he was given a waiver and “preferential treatment” by the Biden administration.
