Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
GOP’s Ukraine rift rages in presidential debate
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy demanded Wednesday that the U.S. end its support for Ukraine, calling the Eastern European country a bad ally that is losing its war with Russia. Published November 8, 2023
GOP candidates back deporting pro-Hamas foreign students
Republican presidential candidates on Wednesday pledged support for Israel and vowed to root out antisemitism in the U.S., saying they will cancel visas of foreign students who supported Hamas and punish colleges that allow hate to fester. Published November 8, 2023
Feds to dispose of 23 buildings as GSA seeks to trim office space to match fewer workers
The federal government's chief landlord agency said Wednesday it has identified 23 properties it will try to dispose of because the pandemic and more lenient telework policies have turned offices into ghost towns. Published November 8, 2023
Mayorkas suggests Hamas terrorism supporters could have visas revoked
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas seemed to suggest Wednesday that he could revoke the visas of any foreign visitors in the U.S. who can be shown to have endorsed or supported Hamas terrorists. Published November 8, 2023
Senators reject Mayorkas’ demand for border money now, immigration policy changes later
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told Congress on Wednesday that he needs $14 billion in border money now, but any policy changes must wait until lawmakers are ready to pass a broad immigration bill that includes legalization of illegal immigrants. Published November 8, 2023
Democrats want Biden to declare deportation amnesty for Palestinians in U.S.
Dozens of Democratic lawmakers have signed on to a draft letter prodding the Biden administration to declare a deportation amnesty for Palestinians already in the U.S., The Washington Times has learned. Published November 8, 2023
Lawmakers tell FBI to give up warrantless searches if agency wants to keep digital snooping powers
An influential coalition of liberal and conservative lawmakers said Tuesday that they would try to block the renewal of the government's chief spying tool unless the intelligence agencies agree to new rules requiring warrants before peering into Americans' communications. Published November 7, 2023
House GOP probes Biden attempt to crush firearms industry with export ban
House Republicans demanded Tuesday that the Biden administration revoke a surprise policy that shuts down the firearms industry's ability to export guns to civilians around much of the globe, calling the move a "ridiculous" attempt to crush America's gun-makers. Published November 7, 2023
U.S. solicitor defends gun bans for dangerous people; courts dealing with Bruen ruling want clarity
The Biden administration asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday to preserve gun control laws that deny firearms to people deemed dangerous even if they have not actually been convicted of a felony, saying that standard has long been accepted as a valid reason to restrict gun rights. Published November 7, 2023
Senate GOP’s border security plan would restart border wall, restrict asylum claims
Key Senate Republicans on Monday announced a road map for stiffening border security by restarting construction on the border wall, limiting the expansive asylum claims illegal immigrants use to get caught and released, and shutting down the "family loophole" that rewards migrants who bring children on the dangerous journey. Published November 6, 2023
Push to block Palestinian refugees, migrants intensifies
Efforts to block Palestinians from reaching the U.S. as immigrants or refugees are intensifying on Capitol Hill, where Republicans say the country must resist pressure to welcome people fleeing the Israel-Hamas war. Published November 6, 2023
Biden’s pitch for war spending: U.S. defense industry needs customers
Thirty years after the post-Cold War peace dividend and 10 years after the post-Iraq war dividend, Democrats and Republicans are now competing to funnel more cash to the Pentagon as the U.S. suddenly finds itself bankrolling two wars on the other side of the globe. Published November 5, 2023
Feds nab ‘national security’ case Palestinian who got illegal gun, may have been training for attack
Federal authorities have arrested a man they say entered the U.S. on a Palestinian passport, became an illegal immigrant, was granted a work permit by the Biden administration and then obtained an illegal firearm. Published November 3, 2023
Weak plea deal for anti-Trump IRS leaker sparks call for tougher law
Republican senators announced legislation to double the potential prison sentence for anyone caught leaking sensitive taxpayer information, saying the current law is woefully weak. Published November 3, 2023
Former Gov. O’Malley promises to modernize Social Security agency
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley told senators on Thursday he's ready to hang up his political spurs and oversee a major modernization at the Social Security Administration, calling the agency's current level of customer service "unacceptable." Published November 2, 2023
DHS let employees download risky apps to government phones
An inspector general issued an alert Thursday to Homeland Security saying one of its key immigration agencies is so lax in policing use of mobile devices that adversary nations could track agents or steal their data. Published November 2, 2023
Supreme Court to hear case brought by ‘poster child’ for gun control, advocates say
Zackey Rahimi is an odd choice to be the face of the gun rights movement. Published November 1, 2023
FBI arrests Cornell student suspected of threatening to kill Jewish students
The FBI on Tuesday arrested a Cornell University student who authorities believe was behind a series of threats to kill Jewish students at the school. Published October 31, 2023
Special agents yanked off child trafficking cases to make sandwiches for migrants at border
A whistleblower has told Congress that special agents at Homeland Security Investigations have been pulled off cases involving child traffickers and sexual exploitation and been deployed to the border to make sandwiches for illegal immigrants. Published October 31, 2023
DHS assessing legality of deporting foreign students who cheered Hamas
Homeland Security is evaluating whether it has the legal authority to deport students here on visas who praised Hamas and urged the eradication of Israel after the Oct. 7 sneak attack. Published October 31, 2023
