Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Criminals cash in on COVID-19 relief funds to stock up on guns and drugs
The Labor Department's watchdog said nearly 20% of the unemployment insurance benefits that California paid out over the first six months of the pandemic went to fraudulent claims, with criminal syndicates using some of the money to buy drugs and guns, an inspector general says. Published October 23, 2022
Biden racks up multiple records in chaotic year at border
The Border Patrol apprehended a record 20 terrorism suspects in September, bringing the total for fiscal 2022 to nearly 100 and closing out the most chaotic 12-month period in border history. Published October 22, 2022
DHS awards deportation amnesty for Ethiopians
Homeland Security announced a new deportation amnesty for Ethiopians, saying the ongoing conflict in their home country means they have access to Temporary Protected Status here in the U.S. Published October 21, 2022
DHS awards deportation amnesty for Ethiopians
The Department of Homeland Security announced a new deportation amnesty for Ethiopians, saying the conflict in their home country means they have access to Temporary Protected Status here in the U.S. Published October 21, 2022
Federal deficit cut in half, ends the year at $1.4 trillion in the red
The good news is that the federal budget deficit was substantially trimmed in half over the last year. The bad news is that it was still $1.4 trillion. Published October 21, 2022
Hispanics in Texas support Gov. Greg Abbott’s migrant busing program
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's campaign to bus illegal immigrants deeper into the country remains popular among his state's voters -- and that includes Hispanic voters. Published October 21, 2022
Florida says illegal immigrant with lengthy criminal record cast ballots in 2022 elections
An illegal immigrant with a massive criminal record has been voting in Florida under an assumed name, state officials said Thursday. Published October 20, 2022
Federal agencies caught dogging it over policies on caring for canines
Dogs may be man's best friend, but men aren't always the best friends back -- at least when it comes to Uncle Sam. Published October 20, 2022
Federal appeals court rules Congress upended separation of powers in creating consumer board
A federal appeals court on Wednesday delivered a blow to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, ruling Congress ran afoul of the Constitution when it delegated its financial authority to an executive agency. Published October 19, 2022
Social Security allows Americans to pick new gender
Americans can now select a new gender in their Social Security records without having to submit any medical or legal proof that they have switched their sex designation. Published October 19, 2022
Biden administration trounces Texas, Arizona in battle of busing, flying migrants across U.S.
The Biden administration is trouncing Texas and Arizona in sheer volume in the battle over busing migrants. The busing and flight operation has grown so big that the Homeland Security Department says it has had to siphon manpower away from its regular duties. Published October 19, 2022
Border Patrol missing key video in a migrant death case
Border Patrol authorities say a thunderstorm knocked out their video recording equipment at a Texas processing facility in August, leaving a two-week gap in records including a key period when an illegal immigrant fell ill while in custody and later died. Published October 19, 2022
Catholic bishop blasts Biden, GOP governors over immigration
The chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' migration committee chastised the Biden administration and red state governors for their handling of immigration and called for all sides to collaborate on better treatment. Published October 18, 2022
Inspector general says unemployment money was spent on drugs, guns
Criminal syndicates that scammed the unemployment system out of billions of dollars in pandemic benefits used some of the money to buy drugs and guns, an inspector general says. Published October 17, 2022
Supreme Court declines invitation to broaden birthright citizenship
The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear a case that would have expanded the country's birthright citizenship policy to American Samoa. Published October 17, 2022
Border Patrol agents poke holes in DHS’ new border policy
Homeland Security's announcement that it will begin to oust some Venezuelan illegal immigrants caught jumping the border is turning out to be less than it seems, according to Border Patrol agents and analysts who say the policy is riddled with holes. Published October 16, 2022
Border Patrol agents killed man armed with scissors
An illegal immigrant got loose from a detention cell, grabbed a pair of scissors and advanced on Border Patrol agents who shot and killed him, the agency said Saturday. Published October 15, 2022
Biden’s overwhelmed DHS desperate for help in vetting American sponsors of Ukrainian refugees
Homeland Security is rushing to recruit volunteers from within its ranks to vet Americans who want to sponsor Ukrainians fleeing their country amid the ongoing war with Russia. Published October 15, 2022
Three plead guilty in $250 million pandemic fraud that stole food money from kids
Federal prosecutors won guilty pleas Thursday from three people involved in the largest pandemic fraud scheme to date, where investigators say a quarter of a billion dollars flowed to organizations that were supposed to be feeding needy kids but instead pocketed most of the money. Published October 13, 2022
Agents blast Biden’s new border policy for Venezuelans: ‘PR stunt’
Border Patrol agents said Thursday that Mexico has put a cap on how many Venezuelans it will take back in the Biden administration's new border security push, undercutting the program before it's even started. Published October 13, 2022
