Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Social Security scam: Agency employee fabricated children, claimed $75,000 in benefits
A Social Security employee managed to steal $75,000 from his agency by creating identities for two children who never existed, then having the government send them nearly three years' worth of benefit checks, according to federal prosecutors. Published August 4, 2023
IRS lost hundreds of packages with taxpayers’ information
Sometimes the IRS needs to send taxpayers' documents from one location to another. The documents don't always get there. Published August 3, 2023
Activists urge colleges to use immigration to diversify schools after end of racial preferences
A group of university presidents and immigration activists said Wednesday that colleges should turn to immigration to pursue their diversity goals as they struggle with the Supreme Court's ruling striking down affirmative action in school admissions. Published August 2, 2023
Dem lawmakers rail against speedy asylum process, say illegal immigrants forced to recount trauma
Congressional Democrats demanded Tuesday that Homeland Security stop conducting initial asylum screenings on newly arrived illegal immigrants in Border Patrol facilities, saying it's unfair to make the migrants have to recount traumatic events while in the custody of people with guns and badges. Published August 1, 2023
House GOP launches DOJ probe over bungled plea deal with Hunter Biden
House Republicans launched an investigation Monday into how the Justice Department bungled a plea deal with Hunter Biden so badly that a judge sent them back for a mulligan. Published July 31, 2023
ICE arrests, deportations must clear high hurdles; officers see ‘excuse for us not to do our job’
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement rekindled its policy that limits the illegal immigrants whom officers are allowed to arrest and deport, moving after the Supreme Court shot down a legal challenge to the policy. Published July 31, 2023
Cartels thrive under Biden’s new policy; smugglers demand higher pay with lower numbers at border
Miguel Angel Salazar-Estrada, who rafted over the Rio Grande, told Border Patrol agents that his family paid $17,000 for his smuggling from Guatemala. Published July 30, 2023
IRS skimps on audits of high-dollar partnerships
The IRS barely audits taxpayers that file as large partnerships, and it bungles the selection process for those that it does audit by failing to pick the returns likeliest to be in arrears, Congress' chief watchdog reported. Published July 28, 2023
GOP tees up vote to cancel Biden’s new border policy
Senate Republicans announced legislation Thursday that would erase President Biden's new border policy that allows unauthorized migrants to enter the U.S. as long as they first schedule an appointment with Homeland Security. Published July 27, 2023
GOP bill would force DHS to reopen northern border to pre-COVID hours
GOP lawmakers announced legislation Thursday to force the Department of Homeland Security to restore northern border crossings to the hours they had before the government shuttered them for the pandemic. Published July 27, 2023
Evasive Mayorkas denies ‘smiling’ in mockery of Republican queries
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas's feud with congressional Republicans reached the absurd Wednesday as he battled lawmakers over whether or not he was "smiling" while evading their questions. Published July 26, 2023
Economy will slow this year, but avoid recession: CBO
The 2024 presidential campaign will take place under a troubled economy, the Congressional Budget Office projected Wednesday, foreseeing slowing growth and rising unemployment. Published July 26, 2023
DHS secretary tells Congress he’s ‘not smiling’
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas wanted the public to know he wasn't smiling Wednesday as he faced intense criticism from Republicans over his job performance. Published July 26, 2023
Senators challenge USDA to detail spending to group that funded Wuhan lab
The National Institutes of Health is pulling funding for the Wuhan virus lab, but three Republican senators are trying to make sure EcoHealth Alliance, which was the conduit for taxpayer funds to reach Wuhan, doesn't skate on its past links to the lab. Published July 26, 2023
Spendthrift EPA growing too fast under Biden, watchdog warns
Somewhat tamed by the Trump administration, the Environmental Protection Agency has gained a new lease on power under President Biden, according to a new report that says the agency has so much cash coming in that it can't be properly audited for waste and fraud. Published July 26, 2023
Judge punches hole in Biden border policy by blocking new asylum limits
A federal judge blocked the Biden administration's attempt to impose stricter rules on asylum-seekers, blunting the stick in the government's new carrot-and-stick approach to illegal immigration. Published July 25, 2023
Biden’s DOJ sues Texas to remove water wall from Rio Grande
The Biden administration filed a lawsuit Monday asking a judge to order Texas to remove the floating barrier the state put into the Rio Grande to try to block illegal immigration, saying the water wall amounts to illegal construction. Published July 24, 2023
Abbott blames Biden for illegal immigrants that drown in Rio Grande
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott blasted President Biden on Monday, telling him to either find a way to secure the border or get out of the way of states that want to do it themselves. Published July 24, 2023
IRS agents stop making surprise house calls; visit to journalist raises questions
Bloodied by bad press, the IRS promised Monday to reverse course and stop sending officers out to make surprise house calls to collect unpaid taxes from Americans. Published July 24, 2023
Offended Republicans pull funding from Smithsonian’s American Latino exhibit
When newly elected Rep. Juan Ciscomani first came to Washington late last year to prepare for his swearing-in, he took his six children to the Smithsonian's new exhibit on Latino history, eager to show them their heritage. Published July 23, 2023
