A judge has quietly closed Prince Harry's visa case related to his past drug use admissions, according to a Daily Mail Online report.
The ruling, issued by Judge Carl Nichols in Washington, comes after a four-month review of the Duke of Sussex's U.S. immigration documents. The decision has been sealed, meaning the details are unavailable to the public.
The case originated from a lawsuit filed by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, which questioned whether Prince Harry had been truthful about his drug use on his visa application. The organization sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after it refused to release Harry's immigration files in response to a Freedom of Information request.
Judge Nichols filed a Sealed Ex Parte Order and Sealed Ex Parte Memorandum, which are not accessible to the public. This type of order is filed without notifying all parties involved, a departure from regular court procedures where all parties are informed.
The sealing of the order means that the outcome of the case and any potential implications for Prince Harry's immigration status remain unknown. This development comes after Judge Nichols had previously requested to review Harry's immigration paperwork in April, citing the need to understand the "particular harm" that could arise from making the material public.
The Heritage Foundation had argued that Prince Harry may have lied on his visa application regarding his drug use history. This claim was based on Harry's public admissions in his memoir "Spare" and his Netflix series, where he discussed using cannabis, cocaine, and magic mushrooms.
The sealed nature of the ruling has led to speculation about its contents and potential consequences for Prince Harry. Samuel Dewey, a lawyer representing the Heritage Foundation, stated that there was no indication of who prevailed in the case.
Dewey explained:
In these types of cases where there are unusual facts like this one, this is not an unusual thing to have a sealed order. There could be very good reasons for it to be sealed, regardless of who won. This is not weird or suggestive of anything untoward.
He further suggested that the order could have been sealed to prevent public disclosure of Harry's visa status before the DHS has an opportunity to appeal, if necessary.
The case has taken on additional significance in light of the upcoming Presidential election. Former President Donald Trump has suggested he could deport Prince Harry if he wins in November, adding a political dimension to the visa dispute.
While the sealed ruling keeps the details of the case private for now, it is expected that more information may become available in the coming weeks.
The outcome could potentially impact Prince Harry's ability to reside in the United States, where he has been living with his wife, Meghan Markle, since stepping back from royal duties.
The closure of this case marks a significant moment in Prince Harry's ongoing relationship with U.S. immigration authorities. The sealed ruling leaves many questions unanswered regarding the Duke's visa status and the potential consequences of his past drug use admissions. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains a topic of interest for both royal watchers and those concerned with immigration policies.
