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Stephen Dinan

Stephen Dinan

Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Stephen Dinan

In this May 25, 2010 file photo, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent walks down the aisle among shackled Mexican immigrants a boarded a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement charter jet for deportation in the air between Chicago, Il. and Harlingen, Texas. A Homeland Security Department internal watchdog says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could have saved millions of dollars on charter flights carrying deported immigrants to their home countries by not leaving seats empty. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

DHS makes first speedy deportation flights as border crisis deepens

Homeland Security officials said the first expedited removal flights of illegal immigrant families back to Central America took off Friday under a new initiative to stem the border surge, braving criticism from immigrant-rights activists who called the move "appalling." Published July 30, 2021

Immigrant youth and advocates rally to the office of Attorney General Ken Paxton on the day of the Supreme Court's hearing on DACA in Austin, Texas, in this July 2019 photo. (Lola Gomez/Austin American-Statesman via AP) **FILE**

DHS approved DACA applications in violation of judge’s order

Homeland Security approved at least nine new DACA applications and advanced dozens of others in violation of a judge's order pausing work on much of the program, department officials admitted in court filings this week. Published July 30, 2021

Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a press conference on details of his plan for Texas to build a border wall and provide $250 million in state funds as a "down payment.", Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP) ** FILE **

Texas governor issues order to block COVID-19 positive migrants from leaving the border

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Wednesday to try to stop the dispersion of the coronavirus in his state by giving state police the power to stop and turn back vehicles -- particularly buses -- carrying immigrants who were caught crossing the border illegally, then released by the Biden administration. Published July 29, 2021

In this Dec. 21, 2018, file photo, a Honduran youth jumps from the U.S. border fence in Tijuana, Mexico. California's attorney general filed a lawsuit Monday, Feb. 18, 2019, against President Donald Trump's emergency declaration to fund a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Xavier Becerra released a statement Monday saying 16 states — including California — allege the Trump administration's action violates the Constitution. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza, File)

Mexican migrant dies after falling from border fence

A Mexican man who fell from the border wall has died, authorities announced Tuesday, marking the latest death by someone trying to jump the border amid the Biden migrant surge. Published July 27, 2021

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on the topic of illegal immigration during a press conference on the border at Anzalduas Park, Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Mission, Texas. (Joel Martinez/The Monitor via AP)

Biden administration, Texas move to get tough at the border

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday authorized the National Guard to help arrest those involved in immigrant smuggling along his state's border with Mexico, marking the latest get-tough approach officials are trying as the border situation deteriorates. Published July 27, 2021

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during a press conference with Guatemala's Foreign Minister Pedro Brolo in Guatemala City, Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Mayorkas is in Guatemala for a two-day visit. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) **FILE**

DHS chief Mayorkas says grim border numbers are misleading

The border situation isn't as bad as it is being portrayed, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told senators on Tuesday, saying that the 20-year high of Border Patrol apprehensions is misleading because many of the migrants are repeat-offenders who are making multiple attempts each month. Published July 27, 2021

In this Thursday, June 10, 2021, photo, a pair of migrant families from Brazil pass through a gap in the border wall to reach the United States after crossing from Mexico to Yuma, Ariz., to seek asylum. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia) **FILE**

DHS approves new work on border wall

Homeland Security announced Tuesday that it will do some repairs and "reinforcing" of the border wall, marking the first upgrades under the Biden administration to former President Donald Trump's signature initiative. Published July 27, 2021

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services building in Phoenix is seen here on Aug. 5, 2008. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

EXCLUSIVE: Homeland Security would need years to prepare for new amnesty

The massive immigrant-legalization program that Democrats plan to include in their upcoming budget would overwhelm the government's citizenship agency, adding millions of new cases to an agency that, according to a secret internal study, is already running well above its red line. Published July 26, 2021

Tucson Samaritans check the border wall, including a small gap in the new construction, near Sasabe, Ariz., on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Opponents that seek to control immigration, such as the Washington-based think tank Center for Immigration Studies, contend the border wall and other barriers are a better way to keep deaths down by keeping migrants out. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

DHS cancels 31 miles of border wall in Texas

Homeland Security Department officials on Friday officially canceled contracts for 31 miles of border wall construction that had been planned for Texas, saying the barriers were "not necessary" to save lives or help the environment. Published July 23, 2021

A young migrant girl from Venezuela stands with her mother as they wait with Border Patrol after turning themselves in after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Del Rio, Texas. Record numbers of Venezuelans are crossing the U.S.-Mexico border as overall migration swells. They're fleeing turmoil in the country with the world's largest oil reserves and pandemic-induced pain across South America. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Audit finds DHS falls short on medical care for migrants at the border

The lack of clear guidance means agents are confused about who qualifies as "at-risk," how often migrants should be checked while in custody of Customs and Border Protection, and when migrants should be given a second medical screening, the report said. Published July 23, 2021