Donald Trump has suggested Prince Harry may be deported from the US under his leadership if the Duke is found to have falsified information on his visa form.
The 77-year-old former president implied that the royal would not receive “special privileges” if he lied about his drug use in an interview with TV host Nigel Farage on GB News.
Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, along with their two kids, Archie and Lilibet, reside in a nine-bedroom mansion in Montecito, California. Harry moved to the US in 2020.
The prince disclosed in his autobiography, “Spare,” that he had used drugs in the past, which is illegal in the US and would typically result in the denial of a visa application.
He acknowledged using psychedelic mushrooms, cocaine, and cannabis in the book.
Farage questioned Trump during the interview, which will air in its entirety on British television on Tuesday, about Harry’s entitlement to “special privileges” in the event that it turns out he lied.
“We need to find out if they have any knowledge about the drugs, and if he lied, they need to take the proper action,” Trump retorted.
“Adequate action? which could entail leaving America? Farage enquired.
“Oh, I’m not sure.” I’ll have to hear from you. All you have to do is tell me. Trump retorted, “You would have thought they would have known this a long time ago.”
The former president has previously declared that Harry had “betrayed the Queen” and that he “wouldn’t protect.” Additionally, Trump declared that Harry ‘would be on his own’ if he were to win the election in November.
Harry has acknowledged using cocaine and marijuana in the past, claiming that the drug helped him deal with the pain of losing his mother.
The Duke claimed that after taking the psychedelic substance ayahuasca, he understood his mother wanted him to be “happy.”
Harry’s attempt to obtain US citizenship was brought up during his February interview with Good Morning America, which brought it back into the headlines.
“I’ve thought about becoming an American, but it’s not something that’s a top priority for me right now,” he stated.
A “yes” or “no” response to the question “Are you or have you ever been a drug abuser or addict?” is required of anyone applying for a visa to live and work in the United States.
According to The Heritage Foundation, Harry may have checked the “no” box when asked about his drug use on his March 2020 US visa application.
The use of drugs has been connected to travel issues for celebrities, such as Nigella Lawson, Amy Winehouse, and Kate Moss, and is a question that US immigration authorities frequently ask about on visa applications.
Recognizing prior drug use does not automatically result in a visa being denied or prevent someone from entering or remaining in the nation.
A federal judge is deliberating whether or not to make Prince Harry’s immigration records public, and the Department of Homeland Security announced on Monday that it would require an additional two weeks to locate them.
In a court filing on Sunday, the department made its request, stating that it requires additional time to react to Judge Carl Nichols’ order for more details regarding the reasons his immigration status should remain confidential.
The conservative Heritage Foundation is requesting access to the records in order to ascertain whether Harry falsified the crucial document.
Lawyers for D.H.S. stated in the filing, “Defendant has started the search, but looking for and reviewing the records has taken longer than anticipated.”
They added that before the documents are given to the judge, they might need to be reviewed by other government agencies.
They wrote, “The defendant humbly requests an extension of fourteen days, until and including April 4, 2024, to comply with the court’s order, having established good cause.”
The Duke of Sussex’s immigration status and the legal battle surrounding it have taken a new turn with the filing.
The Heritage Foundation’s chief requestor, Nile Gardiner, explained that the goal was to make sure that no one was given preferential treatment.
He recently wrote, “Again, Harry has publicly admitted to extensive use of illegal drugs.”
“What does this mean, in our opinion? Harry appears to have benefited from preferential treatment because the DHS either ignored the Prince’s false answers on his visa application or looked the other way if the Prince provided accurate information.
“Any choice would be incorrect.”
In an effort to “protect the Duke’s privacy,” D.H.S. declined to provide any information. As a result, the case is currently pending in federal court while Judge Nichols determines the best course of action.
He informed D.H.S. following a hearing last month that its arguments were “insufficiently detailed” for him to rule on.
In an order, he stated, “The court concludes that in camera review is necessary to determine whether the records in dispute come within the scope of the claimed exemptions,” after reviewing the parties’ written submissions and hearing oral arguments on the motions.
Additionally, he extended to the Biden administration until March 21 the deadline for submitting “declarations that detail, with particularity, the records it is withholding and the particular harm that would arise from their public disclosure.”
Government attorneys contended that Harry’s memoir provided no evidence during the February hearing.
‘Just saying something in a book doesn’t make it true,’ Department of Homeland Security representative John Bardo told the court.
He contended that sometimes, people include things in books only to increase sales.
A transcript of the GMA interview from February 16, 2024, “in which the Duke of Sussex discusses potentially seeking United States citizenship,” was also presented by Lawyers for Heritage.
They claimed it strengthened their argument for getting his immigration records released.
In a court document, Heritage stated: “Given that the Duke of Sussex has openly admitted to the essential elements of several drug offenses, widespread and ongoing media coverage has raised the question of whether DHS properly admitted the Duke of Sussex.”