The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, may face deportation from the United States following Donald Trump’s election victory, with legal experts predicting a tougher battle to keep his immigration status intact.
According to MailOnline, a Beverly Hills attorney Alphonse Provinziano, an international family law specialist, has warned that Prince Harry could face a “fight” to remain in the US during Trump’s presidency.
“One unlikely loser of the 2024 US presidential election is Prince Harry.
“Trump has repeatedly said that he thinks Harry should not be allowed to stay in the United States since he ‘betrayed the Queen’ and possibly was not forthcoming about his past drug use on his visa application.
“Prince Harry’s lawyers will be busy over the next four years, as Trump has made it quite clear that if he returned to office, he would seek to have Harry removed from the country,” Provinziano stated.
Trump’s administration could also empower conservative groups, such as the Heritage Foundation, to push for the release of Harry’s immigration records.
The organization has argued that the Duke’s admission of drug use in his memoir Spare and in interviews should have disqualified him from obtaining a visa.
Director of the Heritage Foundation’s Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, Nile Gardiner, noted that Trump’s leadership could strengthen their case.
“There’s a strong possibility that we could win our case now.
“Releasing Harry’s immigration records would send a very strong message about applying the rule of law equally to everyone. If Harry has nothing to hide, he should support the release of the records,” Gardiner said
Prince Harry’s relocation to Montecito, California, with Meghan Markle and their children in 2020 came under scrutiny following revelations in his memoir about past cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushroom use.
U.S. visa regulations require applicants to disclose prior drug use, and false statements could lead to deportation.
“If it is found that Harry misrepresented his prior drug use on his visa application and a disclosure was required, this could be grounds for the government to pursue his deportation,” Provinziano warned.
The Duke and Duchess recently purchased a property in Portugal, fueling speculation that they may be preparing for potential legal challenges.
An insider told The Daily Mail: “We can expect to see more of Harry back in Britain in years to come.”
The Sussexes’ tensions with the Trump family have also reignited. Trump’s son Eric has suggested that his father would “gladly” deport Harry, claiming the UK “wouldn’t want him either.”
The rift dates back to 2016 when Meghan Markle labeled Trump “misogynistic” and “divisive,” prompting Trump to call her “nasty.”
In February, Trump stated, “I wouldn’t protect Harry if I won a second term because he betrayed the Queen. That’s unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me.”
As speculations grow, Prince Harry’s legal team may face a challenging four years navigating the potential fallout from Trump’s return to power.