Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Justice Dept. sues Virginia to demand access to voter list
The Trump Justice Department has sued to get access to Virginia's full voter registration list, saying the state has illegally refused to turn it over. Published January 16, 2026
Justice Dept. issues subpoenas probing Minnesota leaders for obstructing federal enforcement
The Trump Justice Department is pursuing an investigation into top Minnesota political leaders for impeding federal law enforcement and has issued subpoenas, according to news reports Friday. Published January 16, 2026
DHS closes out first year under Trump with record-low border numbers
The Department of Homeland Security continued its record streak of border calm, announcing another drop in illegal immigrants caught at the southern border in December. Published January 16, 2026
Supreme Court to hear challenge to cops’ use of ‘geofence’ warrants
The Supreme Court said it will take up a case challenging the constitutionality of "geofence warrants," which police use to try to identify suspects by poring over cellphones in the vicinity of a crime. Published January 16, 2026
Man charged after two guns stolen from FBI vehicle during Minneapolis mayhem
At least two guns, ammunition and body armor were stolen from an FBI vehicle during the mayhem in Minneapolis this week following another ICE-involved shooting, authorities said Friday. Published January 16, 2026
Trump threatens Insurrection Act as protesters, politicians rail against ICE raids in Minneapolis
Another ICE-involved shooting has put Minneapolis on edge, left a federal officer and a migrant hospitalized and drawn a new warning from President Trump, who threatened Thursday to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy troops. Published January 15, 2026
Judge rejects Justice Department’s attempt to get California voter roll info
A federal judge shut down the Justice Department's attempt to get voter roll information from California, scolding the Trump administration for turning a pro-voting rights law into what he called an attempt to invade Americans' privacy. Published January 15, 2026
Ex-Des Moines schools chief accused of being illegal immigrant signals possible guilty plea
Ian Roberts, the former Des Moines schools superintendent accused of being an illegal immigrant and who was found with a gun when he was arrested, signaled he may plead guilty to federal charges against him. Published January 15, 2026
Homeland Security Secretary Noem calls latest Minnesota attack on ICE ‘an attempted murder’
Three men who "ambushed" an ICE officer in Minneapolis, spurring him to fire his gun and wound one of them, all came to the U.S. during the Biden administration and are in the country illegally, the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday. Published January 15, 2026
Minnesota conducting its own probe into latest ICE shooting
Minnesota's police shooting board is independently investigating this week's shooting by a federal officer of a target in an immigration arrest. Published January 15, 2026
Man gets minimum sentence for torching Tesla in Elon Musk protest
A man who tried to torch a Tesla dealership at the height of the anti-Elon Musk craze last year was slapped with the minimum possible five-year prison sentence by a federal judge this week. Published January 15, 2026
Migrant charged with selling fentanyl at farmers market in Georgia
Luis Sanchez-Acevedo was selling more than produce at his farmers market stand, according to federal authorities, who say the illegal immigrant doled out thousands of fentanyl-laced pills among the fruit and vegetables. Published January 15, 2026
Appeals court rules against pro-Palestinian protester Mahmoud Khalil
A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that a lower court didn't have the power to issue orders protecting Mahmoud Khalil from being arrested by immigration authorities, delivering a belated win to the Trump administration in its pursuit of a prominent pro-Palestinian demonstrator. Published January 15, 2026
Another DHS shooting: Feds say officer was ambushed and beaten, fired to stop attack
A federal agent trying to arrest an illegal immigrant in Minnesota was ambushed by people who attacked him with a shovel and a broom handle, forcing him to open fire, the Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday. Published January 14, 2026
Trump to shut down Afghan evacuee camp
President Trump has informed Congress he will shut down the migrant camp in Qatar where the U.S. holds Afghan evacuees before they are allowed to reach America, a senior lawmaker said Wednesday. Published January 14, 2026
Judge nixes Trump administration’s attempt to impose new fraud controls on food stamps in Minnesota
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration on Wednesday from imposing new fraud controls on Minnesota's food stamp amid reports of rampant fraud. Published January 14, 2026
California’s new Democrat-dominated congressional map survives court challenge
A federal court ruled in favor of California's new congressional map Wednesday, saying the fact that the lines were approved by voters as a way to give Democrats more political power shields it from any questions about being an illegal racial gerrymander. Published January 14, 2026
FBI wrongly questioned agents’ support for Trump, religious beliefs, COVID vaccine status
FBI investigators conducting security clearance reviews wrongly asked agents and other witnesses about political and religious beliefs, the bureau's inspector general said in a new report Wednesday. Published January 14, 2026
Supreme Court allows challenge to Illinois mail-in ballot law on counting votes after Election Day
The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that federal candidates can challenge state laws that allow mail-in ballots to be counted past Election Day. Published January 14, 2026
Lawmakers ask judge to appoint independent monitor to release Epstein files
The congressmen who wrote the Epstein Files Transparency Act have asked a federal judge to appoint an overseer to speed up the Trump administration's review of files from the disgraced and deceased sex offender, saying the Justice Department appears to be bungling the process. Published January 13, 2026
