Amid growing scrutiny over his immigration status and past drug use, Prince Harry faces potential deportation threats from former President Donald Trump and conservative think-tank, the Heritage Foundation.

Their joint efforts and public statements have sparked significant controversy and legal challenges surrounding the Duke of Sussex’s ability to remain in the United States, with the Heritage Foundation questioning his visa qualifications and past drug admissions, as the Daily Mail reports.

Trump has been a vocal critic of Prince Harry since 2020, accusing the prince of betraying Queen Elizabeth II and suggesting that Harry should receive no special privileges regarding his immigration issues.

This criticism dates back to Harry and wife Meghan's move to the U.S. and their public stance against hate speech during the 2020 election, which Trump and others claimed violated royal neutrality.

Legal Battles Over Harry's Immigration Records

The Heritage Foundation has been particularly active in seeking to reveal details of Harry's visa application, initiating legal actions to make these records public following Harry's admission of past drug use in his memoir, Spare.

Despite losing an initial lawsuit aimed at uncovering the immigration documents, the foundation filed a new motion in October to reopen the case.

In response to the lawsuit, the Department of Homeland Security has defended the privacy of immigration records, equating them to other sensitive personal data.

However, Heritage cites a precedent of releasing similar information, pointing to their successful release of Melania Trump's mother's immigration details as justification for their current legal stance.

Trump echoed the Heritage Foundation’s sentiments at the Conservative Political Action Conference, where he remarked that the Biden administration had been excessively lenient towards Prince Harry's visa status. This stance was highlighted during a conversation with Nigel Farage, where Trump emphasized that any deception about drug use should be met with appropriate legal action.

Eric Trump Downplays the Royal Controversy

While the legal and political drama unfolds, Eric Trump has publicly stated that he, along with the rest of his family, holds no strong feelings about Prince Harry or Meghan Markle. He emphasized the Trump family's respect for the British monarchy but clarified their indifference towards the couple's personal decisions and controversies.

This sentiment contrasts with his father’s harsh critique and the ongoing legal pursuits by the Heritage Foundation. These actions have led to widespread speculation about the potential need for the Sussexes to consider alternative residency plans, with royal expert Hugo Vickers suggesting Portugal as a viable option.

Amid this backdrop, Prince Harry himself has expressed only mild interest in pursuing U.S. citizenship, indicating in an interview on Good Morning America that while the thought has crossed his mind, it is not a high priority.

Implications of Heritage Foundation's Legal Strategy

The Heritage Foundation’s strategy includes challenging the privacy of Harry’s visa application records by arguing that the redacted judgment compromises their ability to appeal effectively. They maintain that non-disclosure of drug use could legally bar Harry from U.S. residency.

However, the foundation’s aggressive approach has raised questions about its implications for immigration privacy and the treatment of public figures in legal disputes. Lawyer John Bardo weighed in, stating that like any foreign national, Prince Harry has a legitimate privacy interest in his immigration status.

Judge Carl Nichols supported this view by emphasizing the need to protect personal immigration information, mirroring the protections afforded to other types of sensitive personal data.

The Sussexes' Uncertain Future in the U.S.

As the legal and public debates continue, the situation places Prince Harry and Meghan in an increasingly precarious position concerning their future in the United States. The outcome of the Heritage Foundation’s lawsuit and any potential governmental action on Trump's criticisms could significantly impact their residency status.

With these developments, the discussion around Prince Harry’s ability to remain in the U.S. underscores broader issues of immigration policy and the treatment of public figures by the legal system and political leaders. The ongoing saga continues to attract international attention and raises critical questions about fairness, privacy, and the politicization of individual cases.

Meanwhile, the global community watches as one of the most high-profile immigration cases unfolds, potentially setting precedents for how similar cases are handled in the future.