Despite the ongoing legal dispute over Prince Harry’s U.S. immigration status, President Donald Trump has declared that he will not deport him. In an interview with The New York Post, Trump expressed his stance, “I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.”

The Heritage Foundation, a right-leaning think tank, has been advocating for the disclosure of Harry’s U.S. visa records, claiming that he may have hidden previous drug use, thereby possibly making him unfit for entry into the U.S. The group referenced Harry’s 2023 memoir, “Spare,” in which he confessed to using cocaine, cannabis, and psychedelics.

The Heritage Foundation has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), suggesting that Harry either misrepresented his drug history on his visa application or was given special treatment by the Biden administration. Nile Gardiner of the Heritage Foundation told The Daily Telegraph, “Anyone who applies to the United States has to be truthful on their application, and it is not clear that is the case with Prince Harry.”

At a recent court hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols stated that Harry’s immigration documents might be disclosed “to the maximum extent possible,” while ensuring compliance with privacy laws.

During his 2024 campaign, Trump informed politician and broadcaster Nigel Farage that if Harry was found to have falsified his application, the U.S. government would need to take “appropriate action.” Trump, however, did not explicitly call for Harry’s deportation. Trump also accused the Biden administration of “protecting” Harry and told the Daily Express, “I wouldn’t protect him. He betrayed the Queen. That’s unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me.”

Trump’s latest statement was made shortly before the start of the Invictus Games in Canada, a program initiated by Prince Harry for injured veterans. British media have speculated that Harry’s reluctance to leave the U.S. might be due to concerns about reentry, although Harry has not confirmed this.

Trump seized the chance to commend Prince William, whom he met privately in Paris in December during the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. He told The New York Post, “I think William is a great young man.”

The Sussexes have previously expressed their disapproval of Trump. Meghan Markle publicly criticized him as “misogynistic” and “divisive” prior to the 2016 election, leading Trump to label her “nasty” in 2019. Trump has also repeatedly disparaged Harry, telling correspondent Piers Morgan in 2022 that the prince was “whipped like no person he had ever seen.”

While Trump’s recent comments alleviate the immediate threat of deportation, the Heritage Foundation’s lawsuit is still ongoing. A judge is set to decide the extent of the release of Harry’s immigration documents. If disclosed, these documents could shed light on whether Harry received special treatment or provided false information on his visa application.

Legal experts point out that typically, deportation due to past drug use requires a criminal conviction, which Harry does not have. Nevertheless, this case remains a controversial issue for conservatives pushing for stringent immigration laws.

Contrary to speculation, neither Harry nor Meghan publicly campaigned against Trump in the 2024 election, potentially reducing political pressure on Trump to focus on the prince.

Previously, Mike Howell of the Heritage Foundation suggested that Trump’s return to the presidency in 2025 might increase the possibility of Harry’s deportation. However, Trump’s recent position indicates otherwise, suggesting that Harry’s immigration status may not be a major concern in his broader initiative for stricter border controls.

With Judge Nichols likely to permit partial disclosure of Harry’s visa records, developments may arise in the coming weeks. While these records could vindicate him, they might also reveal details that prompt further questions about his application procedure. The specific visa type held by Harry remains uncertain, sparking speculation about whether he and Meghan had planned their move long before their official departure from royal duties in 2020.