A fresh wave of speculation surrounding Prince Harry’s U.S. immigration status has emerged after a heavily redacted version of his immigration file was made public by order of U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols.
The document, released under the direction of Judge Nichols—a Trump appointee—was submitted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security with key sections redacted. According to RadarOnline, the judge stated in his executive order: “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 long-awaited release of the redacted records has reignited questions over Prince Harry’s eligibility to reside in the United States, particularly in light of past admissions about drug use in his memoir, Spare. Under U.S. immigration law, individuals who admit to using or abusing illegal drugs may be deemed inadmissible and are typically barred from entry unless they can prove they are in remission from addiction.
Greg Swenson, Chairman of Republicans Overseas UK, weighed in on the matter, emphasizing that the Duke of Sussex should not receive preferential treatment. “If Harry is here illegally it would be hypocritical for him to get special treatment given the mass deportations occurring now,” he told DailyMail.
Swenson also offered advice for the royal, suggesting it may be in Harry’s best interest to take action before legal proceedings advance. “So the smartest thing for Harry would be to leave the U.S., avoid the proceedings, and leave voluntarily,” he added.
The debate comes amid broader discussions about immigration enforcement under President Trump’s second term, during which mass deportations have significantly increased. Critics argue that if the law is applied strictly, Harry could be vulnerable to deportation based on his own public admissions.
While the full details of the redacted documents remain unknown, the controversy continues to swirl. Prince Harry, who relocated to California with Meghan Markle in 2020, has not publicly commented on the matter. As the redacted file’s contents are further scrutinized, legal experts and immigration advocates alike will be watching closely to see whether this high-profile case sets a new precedent—or quietly fades from the headlines.
