Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Shaneesha White charged fraud in use of benefits for plastic surgery, feds say
Federal prosecutors announced charges Monday against a Buffalo woman they said bilked the government of nearly $50,000 in coronavirus unemployment benefits, then used the money to pay for a trip to Florida and two plastic surgeries. Published March 22, 2021
ICE signs contract for 1,200 more detention beds to fight border surge
ICE said Monday it has signed a contract to set up more than 1,200 new detention beds to process migrant families, in a move that expands the agency's ability to test new arrivals for the coronavirus. Published March 22, 2021
Joe Biden faces growing bipartisan worry over border
An Arizona Democratic senator added her voice Monday to growing bipartisan complaints over President Biden's handling of the border, labeling the situation an "ongoing crisis" and demanding immediate steps. Published March 22, 2021
Alejandro Mayorias, Homeland Security secretary: Biden team has plans to diffuse migrant surge
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, fresh from a trip to the border, made the rounds of the Sunday political talk shows to try to defuse growing worries over the Biden team's handling of the migrant surge, insisting they have plans to solve the situation. Published March 21, 2021
ICE ends long-term detention of migrant families
ICE has effectively ended long-term detention for migrant families, delivering a huge win to immigrant rights activists who for years had pushed for the move. Published March 21, 2021
Texas governor orders probe of drinking water at Biden’s camps for migrant children
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered an investigation Saturday into the water supply for a camp the Biden administration has opened for migrant children, after he said water at another camp proved to be undrinkable. Published March 20, 2021
House passes bill provides citizenship to ‘Dreamers,’ farmworkers in U.S. illegally
The House approved two bills Thursday that could grant citizenship rights to about half of the 11 million immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally, with Democrats saying the current surge of migrants at the border shouldn't stand in the way of rewarding those who've already been here for years. Published March 18, 2021
Border Patrol union chief: ‘I do not know of one individual that does not think walls work’
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified to Congress this week that Border Patrol agents aren't necessarily fans of the border wall. Published March 18, 2021
Alejandro Mayorkas, DHS chief, faces call to resign over border situation
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is facing a call to resign from Sen. Lindsey Graham, who said Thursday that if the department chief can't change policies to solve the border situation he needs to find a new job. Published March 18, 2021
Crash that killed 8 illegal immigrants followed 50-mile chase at 100 MPH
Federal agents brought charges Wednesday against a man they say was responsible for the deaths of eight illegal immigrants in Texas he was trying to smuggle deeper into the U.S. Published March 17, 2021
Alejandro Mayorkas, DHS chief, admits ‘mistakes made’ in failing to test migrants for COVID-19
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas admitted Wednesday that his department has released migrants who jumped the border into communities without testing them for the coronavirus, but he said officials are working to fix the problem. Published March 17, 2021
Alejandro Mayorkas, Homeland Security secretary: Suspected terrorists crossing through ‘land border’
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas acknowledged Wednesday that known or suspected terrorists are crossing through the southern border, though he said it's been going on for years. Published March 17, 2021
DHS secretary Alejandro Mayorkas: ‘Our border is secure’
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas declared the border "secure" on Wednesday, telling Congress he has plans to address the massive surge of illegal immigrants who say they're rushing to the U.S. to take advantage of what they see as lax Biden policies. Published March 17, 2021
‘Unlawful’: GOP demands probe into Joe Biden’s border wall halt
Republican senators requested an investigation into President Biden's order to pause border wall construction, saying Wednesday that the directive is "a blatant violation of federal law" because it blocks spending Congress specifically authorized. Published March 17, 2021
Michael Avenatti wins another two-month reprieve from federal judge
Disgraced lawyer Michael Avenatti won another two-month reprieve from having to go back behind bars during the pandemic, though a federal judge said Tuesday he should get himself vaccinated. Published March 16, 2021
Nancy Pelosi, Democrats push citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants amid border surge
House Democrats are rushing this week to approve citizenship rights for millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S., even as the Homeland Security secretary warned that agents are arresting more border jumpers than they have in two decades. Published March 16, 2021
Alejandro Mayorkas, DHS secretary: Illegal immigration on border at highest rate in two decades
The number of illegal immigrants trying to jump the border is on pace for the highest rate in two decades, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Tuesday, delivering a sobering account just a day before he is to face Congress. Published March 16, 2021
Michael Avenatti should get COVID-19 vaccine, report to jail, feds say
Federal prosecutors told a judge this week that Michael Avenatti, the disgraced anti-Trump lawyer, should get the COVID vaccine so he can be put back in jail. Published March 15, 2021
8 illegal immigrants fleeing authorities near border die in crash
Eight illegal immigrants in a vehicle fleeing authorities near the border in Texas died in a car crash Monday, adding to the growing body count accompanying the surge of migrants under President Biden. Published March 15, 2021
John Katko: Terror suspects are part of border surge
People on the terrorist watchlist have been nabbed trying to cross the border as part of the new surge of migrants, Rep. John Katko, the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, revealed Monday during a trip to the border. Published March 15, 2021
