A judge has indicated that he is open to releasing Prince Harry’s US visa documents.
Judge Carl Nichols has hinted he could be open to releasing “maximum” portions of secret documents relating to the Duke of Sussex’s immigration status.
The judge previously ruled on September 9 that the Duke’s visa documents should remain private.
Judge Nichols asked lawyers for Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide details of redactions it would like to request before considering a release.
Judge open to releasing Prince Harry’s US visa documents
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The hearing took place in Washington DC.
It was the first time the case had been in court since Trump became president on January 20.
The judge has viewed the tightly-sealed records containing details of Harry’s visa status.
Prince Harry, 40, is not a party in the case, and was not present in court on Wednesday.
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, originally brought the case after the Duke of Sussex discussed his previous drug use in his 2023 memoir, Spare.
The think tank argues that Harry either received special treatment from the Biden administration, or was dishonest on his immigration forms.
Disclosing past drug use in a US visa application, especially when applying for a green card, is generally required.
While it does not automatically result in a denial, it can impact an applicant’s eligibility.
Heritage requested under the Freedom of Information Act for the release of the visa records, however, this was rejected by the DHS.
Judge Nichols said: “I’m not foreclosing the possibility that there might be some possible relief.”
He wanted the “maximum disclosure as long as it doesn’t violate privacy.”
The judge asked the DHS to provide requests for redactions or “continued withholdings.”
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John Bardo, a lawyer for the DHS, said the documents would be a “shell” once redacted.
It was the latest U-turn in Prince Harry’s two-year legal saga concerning his US visa records.
The DHS responded to the legal claim last year, saying: “Much like health, financial, or employment information, a person’s immigration information is private personal information.”
It added that there was no “publicly available information showing that Prince Harry was ever convicted for a drug-related offence.”
