Stephen Dinan

National Guard still needed to quell L.A. protests, ICE says

National Guard troops have been riding along on "most" of the immigration arrest operations ICE has attempted in Los Angeles over the last week, a top Homeland Security official said Monday, defending President Trump's call-up of the National Guard. Published June 16, 2025

Trump directs ICE to deport illegal immigrants from cities, not ‘heartland’

President Trump ordered the government's deportation force to focus on scouring cities for illegal immigrants to deport but pay less attention to America's "heartland," where he said there's just not the same need to boot people. Published June 15, 2025

Country gets first up-close look at the case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia

The "Maryland man" finally got his first day in court, with Kilmar Abrego Garcia appearing in an orange jailhouse jumpsuit before a federal magistrate judge in Tennessee to plead not guilty to a charge of human smuggling. Published June 15, 2025

Judge says DHS can keep Mahmoud Khalil, pro-Palestinian protester, in detention

Mahmoud Khalil, the Palestinian student who became the most prominent anti-Israel activist targets for deportation by the Trump administration, thought he was on the verge of being released Friday. Published June 13, 2025

Abrego Garcia pleads not guilty to migrant smuggling

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant who was at the heart of a major deportation legal battle, pleaded not guilty Friday to migrant smuggling charges, and the government was making its case to a Tennessee judge Friday for him to remain in detention while awaiting his trial. Published June 13, 2025

Four migrants escaped ICE jail in New Jersey

Four migrants escaped from a controversial ICE detention facility in New Jersey this week, Homeland Security admitted Friday. Published June 13, 2025

Afghan who entered U.S. under Biden’s ‘parole’ pleads guilty to terror plot

Nasir Tawhedi, an Afghan man who came to the U.S. as part of President Biden's massive airlift in 2021, agreed to plead guilty to charges of assisting a terrorist organization and attempting to obtain weapons ahead of a planned attack on Election Day last year. Published June 13, 2025

Feds won’t free Mahmoud Khalil, challenge judge to order release of Palestinian activist student

Federal officials told a judge Friday they will not release Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student the administration is trying to deport, saying they have legal reasons to keep him in detention. Published June 13, 2025

Judge blocks Trump’s firings at safety commission

President Trump didn't have the power to fire members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a federal judge ruled Friday, ordering the three ousted people to be restored to their jobs. Published June 13, 2025

Senate GOP budget plan gives Trump full funding for border wall proposal

Senate Budget Chairman Lindsey Graham released a budget plan Friday that includes full funding for President Trump's border wall proposal, seeking to head off a counterproposal that would offer just a fraction of the money Mr. Trump wants. Published June 13, 2025

Judge blocks Trump’s election executive order on noncitizen voting, counting late mail-in ballots

A federal judge issued a broad injunction Friday against President Trump's executive order trying to impose new rules on elections, saying only Congress can make the kinds of changes he had in mind. Published June 13, 2025

Judge rules Trump’s troop deployment illegal; appeals court puts ruling on hold

A federal judge ruled Thursday against President Trump's decision to federalize National Guard troops and use them to quell protests in Los Angeles, but an appeals court quickly put that decision on hold. Published June 12, 2025

Judge questions Trump’s use of troops in California

A federal judge seemed skeptical of President Trump's ability to deploy the National Guard to quell unrest in Los Angeles over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, saying Thursday he was searching for ways to draw lines. Published June 12, 2025

‘Treasonous laws’: GOP blasts sanctuary-state governors, votes to overturn D.C. law

The House voted Thursday to revoke the District's sanctuary policies as Republicans railed against sanctuary governors, saying they have blood on their hands for having protected illegal immigrants who went on to victimize Americans. Published June 12, 2025

House votes to overturn D.C. sanctuary policies

The House voted Thursday to end the District's status as a sanctuary city and force it to work with ICE to turn over illegal immigrants in city custody whom the federal government wants to deport. Published June 12, 2025

WATCH: Sen. Padilla forcibly ejected from DHS secretary’s press conference

Sen. Alex Padilla was forcibly removed Thursday from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's press conference after trying to disrupt the event in Los Angeles. Published June 12, 2025

DHS starts canceling Biden’s ‘parole’ for Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans

Homeland Security said Thursday that it has begun issuing cancellation notices to hundreds of thousands of migrants who came to the U.S. under one of President Biden's "parole" programs, and urged them to self-deport before they have to face formal removal. Published June 12, 2025

Texas’ Abbott deploys 5,000 National Guardsmen to avert anti-Trump violence

Gov. Greg Abbott deployed 5,000 Texas National Guard troops to locations across his state Thursday to try to head off the chance of anti-Trump protests turning violent this weekend. Published June 12, 2025

N.Y. Gov. Hochul humbled in sanctuary debate

Rep. Elise Stefanik took the sanctuary debate straight to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday, leaving the Democrat struggling for answers over why illegal immigrants were running loose in communities to commit horrific crimes. Published June 12, 2025

Feds sue New York over sanctuary law barring arrests near courthouses

The Trump Justice Department sued New York on Thursday over its sanctuary law that aims to block federal officers from making immigration arrests around state courthouses. Published June 12, 2025