Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry may face deportation from the United States following Donald Trump’s election victory.
Experts suggest the new administration could pose significant challenges for the royal, particularly concerning his immigration status.
Prince Harry may have lost the “upper hand” in his battle to keep his immigration documents secret after Trump’s decisive election win, legal experts have revealed, MailOnline exclusively reports.
Beverly Hills attorney Alphonse Provinziano, an international family law specialist, has warned that Harry could face a “fight” to remain in the US during Trump’s presidency.
“One unlikely loser of the 2024 US presidential election is Prince Harry,” said Provinziano. “Trump has repeatedly said that he thinks Harry should not be allowed to stay in the United States since he ‘betrayed the Queen’ and possibly was not forthcoming about his past drug use on his visa application.”
Provinziano added: “Prince Harry’s lawyers will be busy over the next four years, as Trump has made it quite clear that if he returned to office, he would seek to have Harry removed from the country.”
The conservative Heritage Foundation has been pursuing legal action to have Prince Harry’s visa records released. They argue that Harry’s admissions of drug use in his memoir Spare and public interviews should have disqualified him from obtaining a US visa.
The Washington-based think tank contends that the Biden administration shielded Harry by blocking their requests for disclosure. However, a change in leadership at the White House could tilt the scales in their favour.
Nile Gardiner, Director of the Heritage Foundation’s Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, said: “There’s a strong possibility that we could win our case now.”
Gardiner stated: “Releasing Harry’s immigration records would send a very strong message about applying the rule of law equally to everyone. If Harry has nothing to hide, he should support the release of the records.”
Harry moved to Montecito, California, with Meghan Markle and their son Archie in 2020. However, his memoir revealed that he had used cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms in the past.
US visa laws require applicants to disclose prior drug use, and misrepresentation can lead to deportation.
“If it is found that Harry misrepresented his prior drug use on his visa application and a disclosure was required, this could be grounds for the government to pursue his deportation,” Provinziano explained.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently purchased a property in Portugal, sparking speculation that they are preparing for potential legal complications.
One insider told The Daily Mail: “We can expect to see more of Harry back in Britain in years to come.”
The couple’s decision to buy a home in Portugal may also stem from hostility from the Trump family.
Trump’s son, Eric, has previously said his father would “happily” deport Harry and that Britain “wouldn’t want him either.”
The feud between Harry and Trump dates back to 2016 when Meghan called Trump “misogynistic” and “divisive.” In response, Trump labelled Meghan “nasty” and has since been critical of the Sussexes.
In February, Trump declared: “I wouldn’t protect Harry if I won a second term because he betrayed the Queen. That’s unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me.”