Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Supreme Court signals rough sledding for Biden’s immigration agenda
The Supreme Court's ruling this week reviving a Trump-era border policy sent shockwaves through the immigration debate, signaling that the justices will be a major hurdle for President Biden as he tries to impose his more relaxed approach to immigration enforcement. Published August 25, 2021
Supreme Court rejects Biden’s bid to delay ‘Remain in Mexico’ border policy
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rebuffed President Biden's request to halt a lower court order that revives the Trump-era "Remain in Mexico" border policy, effectively forcing the new administration to make a "good faith" effort to push illegal immigrants back across the border. Published August 24, 2021
Mailed ballots were most popular last year, but 20 million weren’t returned
About 20 million ballots mailed out for the November general election were not returned, the federal government's Election Assistance Commission says in a report detailing the successes and hiccups of the voting. Published August 24, 2021
Judge declares mistrial in Avenatti case; disgraced lawyer wins weeks of delay
A judge declared a mistrial Tuesday in the prosecution of Michael Avenatti, ruling that the Justice Department didn't turn over all the financial records it should have. Published August 24, 2021
ICE arresting two-thirds more serious criminals under Biden
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is arresting 65% more convicted aggravated felons under President Biden than it did last year under President Trump, the agency told a federal judge as it makes the case for its new deportation limits. Published August 23, 2021
Judge grants one-week reprieve to ICE on Biden deportation limits
A federal judge on Monday granted a reprieve to ICE, allowing it to revive its new deportation limits for the next week while the Biden administration asks appeals courts to step in and overturn the judge's ruling from last week. Published August 23, 2021
‘Silent amnesty’: Biden administration quietly dismissing thousands of deportation cases
Congress is starting work on legislation to legalize illegal immigrants, but the Biden administration is already working on what some analysts have termed a "silent amnesty," which would quietly suspend or dismiss thousands of deportation cases pending in immigration courts. Published August 23, 2021
DHS begs Supreme Court to block revival of ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy
The Biden administration made an emergency request to the Supreme Court late Friday asking it to block a lower court ruling requiring restoration of President Trump's "Remain in Mexico" policy. Published August 20, 2021
DOJ appeals ruling that stopped Biden deportation limits
The Justice Department filed an appeal Friday a day after a federal judge delivered a withering blow to the Biden administration's anti-deportation policy, ruling the attempt to limit who can be arrested or deported flies in the face of federal law. Published August 20, 2021
New border asylum policy would strain DHS’s finances
Homeland Security says it doesn't know where it will get the money to handle the surge of border asylum claims it expects under its new plan to shift the work from immigration judges to department bureaucrats. Published August 19, 2021
Judge blocks Biden’s attempt to limit deportations
A federal judge issued an injunction Thursday blocking the Biden administration's attempt to limit the scope of illegal immigrants who federal agents can target for arrest and deportation, saying Homeland Security officials failed to give a good justification for the reasons behind the policy. Published August 19, 2021
DHS announces plan to speed asylum cases
The Biden administration unveiled plans Wednesday to speed up asylum decisions for illegal immigrants who sneak across the border then demand protection, a move that could result in hundreds of thousands more people winning asylum each year. Published August 18, 2021
Top Trump officials warn against flood of Afghan visas
Two top officials from the Trump administration delivered a stark warning Tuesday over the stampede to bring in as many Afghan citizens as possible, calling that an element of "open borders policies" and saying it would repeat the mistakes President Biden is making on the U.S.-Mexico border. Published August 18, 2021
Rush to approve Afghan visas poses serious risks
The Biden administration is rushing to build an immigration system that will decide who gets to stay in the U.S. after promising to airlift tens of thousands of Afghan citizens out of their home country. Published August 17, 2021
DHS to pay for legal assistance, ‘cultural orientation’ for illegal immigrants
The Department of Homeland Security announced a new pilot program Tuesday to pay cities, counties and nongovernmental organizations to offer legal services, "cultural orientation," medical screening and other assistance for illegal immigrants who have been caught and released and are awaiting deportation hearings. Published August 17, 2021
Biden taps emergency funds to try to help Afghans flee
President Biden directed the State Department on Monday to tap into emergency money to help speed up processing of Afghans who risked their lives to assist the U.S. war effort, saying an additional $500 million is needed to handle the surge of people. Published August 16, 2021
‘Promises are being broken’ as U.S. strands Afghan allies
Nearly 20,000 Afghan allies who assisted the U.S. in its war and nation-building efforts -- and perhaps 50,000 more spouses and children -- are in danger of being stranded by the country's chaotic collapse, putting faces on the human toll of America's withdrawal. Published August 16, 2021
Border Patrol agents come under fire from Mexico while arresting illegal immigrants
Border Patrol agents arresting a group of illegal immigrants in southern California earlier this week say they came under gunfire from the Mexican side of the border. Published August 14, 2021
Judge orders DHS to restart Trump’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy
A federal judge ordered Homeland Security to restart President Trump's "Remain in Mexico" policy, ruling Friday that the Biden administration cut too many corners when it scrapped the get-tough approach to illegal border crossers. Published August 13, 2021
DHS warns of newly active al Qaeda ahead of 9/11 anniversary
Homeland Security issued a new terrorist threat alert Friday saying it has detected signs of life in al Qaeda ahead of the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks. Published August 13, 2021