Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Deputy U.S. Marshal charged with using cops’ cell tracking tool to target ‘personal relationships’
Federal prosecutors revealed charges Tuesday against a deputy U.S. Marshal for allegedly using the government's real-time cellphone tracking tool on people with whom he had a "personal relationship" and also their spouses. Published June 14, 2022
Senators demand answers about the extent of work already done by DHS’ disinformation board
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas gave "apparently misleading" testimony to Congress about his disinformation board, Senate Republicans charged Tuesday in a letter demanding that Democrats call Mr. Mayorkas back for another chance to explain. Published June 14, 2022
ICE chief adopts new ‘free speech’ rules to limit investigations of journalists
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a new policy to limit the agency's entanglements with reporters, including requiring pre-approval before arresting journalists or subpoenaing their records. Published June 14, 2022
Feds claw back $10 billion from bogus pandemic loans
The federal government has recaptured $10 billion that the government wrongly paid out in pandemic loans to small businesses, according to new numbers Congress released Monday. Published June 13, 2022
Border control advocates want Americans to snitch on ICE’s immigration flights
The Federation for American Immigration Reform said Monday it wants to recruit Americans to inform on the government's attempts to fly illegal immigrants to destinations in the interior of the U.S. Published June 13, 2022
Supreme Court backs DHS’ ability to detain illegal immigrants
The Supreme Court delivered an affirmation of the government's system of detaining illegal immigrants, ruling Monday in two cases against migrants who'd sought the ability to be released while they fought their removal proceedings. Published June 13, 2022
Pandemic fraud syndicates eye next targets for theft of taxpayers’ money
Investigators are still trying to figure out how much was stolen from government programs during the coronavirus pandemic, but the big-time fraudsters have already moved on to find new targets. Published June 12, 2022
Court strikes down Mayorkas’ limits on ICE enforcement
A federal judge tossed out Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas' policy limiting ICE's targets for enforcement actions, ruling Friday that the government has a general duty to try to detain and deport immigrants without documentation who have significant criminal records or who have been ordered removed by an immigration judge. Published June 11, 2022
Biden, other leaders sign migration agreement to cap Summit of the Americas
President Biden and Summit of the Americas leaders pledged Friday to stiffen their borders and improve their asylum systems in an attempt to slow the unprecedented pace of illegal immigration across the hemisphere. Published June 10, 2022
DHS says anti-smuggler efforts stop 900 illegal immigrants a day
Homeland Security said Friday that stepped-up efforts to target the cartels that control migrant smuggling at the U.S.-Mexico border are paying off, with as many as 900 people a day derailed from their plans to cross. Published June 10, 2022
Western leaders will commit to stiffer borders, improved asylum
Leaders at the Summit of the Americas will sign an agreement Friday committing to stiffen borders and improve their asylum systems in an attempt to slow the unprecedented pace of illegal immigration across the hemisphere. Published June 10, 2022
Money mystery: Feds see record tax windfall, but can’t say why
Uncle Sam is making a lot of money. But he doesn't quite know why. Published June 9, 2022
‘Glam migration:’ The illegal immigrant wore Versace
A U.S. senator was stunned during his recent border trip when he saw an illegal immigrant who'd just jumped the boundary in a Versace dress. Published June 9, 2022
Ill-fated DHS disinformation board pursued partnership with social media platforms to censor content
The Department of Homeland Security's ill-fated disinformation board would have been part of an effort to work with private social media platforms to police their content, two senators revealed Wednesday, citing new documents provided to them by a whistleblower. Published June 8, 2022
Justices rule double-dealing migrant smuggler can’t sue Border Patrol agent
A man who helped smuggle illegal immigrants across the Canadian border, but also reported some of them to the U.S. Border Patrol, cannot sue an agent for personal damages under claims his constitutional rights were violated, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. Published June 8, 2022
Armed suspect outside Kavanaugh’s house targeted justice over abortion case, police say
Police arrested an armed man Wednesday morning outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, saying he confessed he was angry over the court's looming decision on abortion and planned to kill the justice and himself. Published June 8, 2022
Unemployment benefits deemed ‘high-risk’ program after massive fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic
The Government Accountability Office slapped its "high-risk" label on the federal unemployment insurance program Tuesday, saying what had been a small trickle of fraud turned into a gusher of waste during the pandemic. Published June 7, 2022
ICE reunites illegal immigrant mother with baby held by smuggler
ICE agents tracked down a smuggler who separated a 1-year-old girl from her mother as they tried to make their way deeper into the U.S., arresting the smuggler and reuniting the family. Published June 7, 2022
Terror alert: Anger over U.S.-Mexico border, abortion case could lead to shootings, DHS warns
The Department of Homeland Security issued a new terror alert Tuesday warning that anger over the chaotic U.S.-Mexico border or a looming Supreme Court decision on abortion rights could lead to more mass violence. Published June 7, 2022
Migrants found dead after smuggler abandoned truck along Texas highway
At least two illegal immigrants were found dead after a smuggler abandoned a truck that was carrying more than 100 people on the side of the highway in La Salle County, Texas, authorities said. Published June 7, 2022
