US President-elect Donald Trump, following his victory, may choose not to deport Prince Harry as a goodwill gesture towards Britain’s King Charles, some legal experts suggest.
Harry’s admission of past drug use in his memoir Spare has raised questions about potential inaccuracies on his US visa application, submitted when he moved to the US in 2020.
Some legal experts believe these admissions could jeopardize Harry’s US residency. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington, DC, argues that Trump’s immigration policies might increase the chances of accessing and scrutinizing Harry’s visa records, according to a GB News report.
Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at The Heritage Foundation, told GB News: “President Trump is firmly committed to securing America’s borders and enforcing immigration laws fully.”
However, Michael Wildes, a New York lawyer with experience working with the Trump family, predicts a more lenient approach. Wildes believes Trump might allow Harry to remain in the US as a favor to King Charles.
“He could permit Harry to stay as a gesture of goodwill for King Charles,” Wildes said, stressing Trump’s nuanced handling of high-profile immigration cases.
Wildes added that he has previously worked with Trump on sensitive immigration matters and suggested Trump might pardon the Duke of Sussex for any domestic offenses.
“He may pardon the Prince for any domestic crimes. I’ve worked closely with Mr Trump on delicate immigration issues, and he quite literally holds a ‘Trump card’ in these situations,” Wildes said.
If Harry were deported while on a visa, he would have limited time to leave the US. However, possessing a green card could offer him more options to contest deportation.
Media reports suggest that Harry may already be planning for contingencies, having recently purchased property in Portugal. According to an insider quoted by royal commentator Richard Eden in GB News, “Harry is likely to spend more time in Britain in the coming years.”