A federal judge has indicated he's "likely" to release Prince Harry's immigration files, marking the first hearing in the high-profile case since former President Trump took office. Judge Carl J. Nichols stated during the Washington, D.C. hearing that the files should be disclosed "to the maximum extent possible," according to reports. He emphasized the court's obligation to make information public while respecting privacy laws, adopting a phased approach and allowing the government to suggest redactions.
This hearing follows recent calls for President Trump to intervene and unseal the records. Nile Gardiner of the Heritage Foundation, the think tank behind the lawsuit, stressed the importance of transparency and accountability, emphasizing that "no one should be above the law." Gardiner highlighted the renewed focus on border control enforcement under Trump and called for Harry to be held accountable for his admitted drug use.
The central question in the case revolves around whether Prince Harry was truthful on his immigration forms or received preferential treatment upon his 2020 arrival in the U.S. These concerns emerged after the Duke of Sussex admitted to drug use in his 2023 memoir, "Spare," prompting the Heritage Foundation's lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security seeking the release of his immigration records.
During his campaign, Trump expressed openness to deporting Harry and has previously criticized the prince's move to the United States, calling him "disrespectful" and "an embarrassment" in a 2022 interview.
