Stephen Dinan

Second illegal immigrant tied to ‘merciless’ sanctuary-city murder

Both men accused of a horrific gang-related murder in the Seattle area last week are illegal immigrants, ICE said Thursday, heaping more attention on the region's sanctuary city policies. Published October 18, 2019

DOJ sets record for prosecuting illegal immigrants

The Justice Department set a record over the last year, prosecuting more criminal cases against illegal immigrants and migrant smugglers than any other year on record, officials announced Friday. Published October 18, 2019

Senate can’t stop Donald Trump’s border wall

Senators gave a backhand approval Thursday to President Trump's border emergency wall building plans by failing to override his veto, marking the latest instance when the White House has outmaneuvered Congress. Published October 17, 2019

Chuck Schumer’s bid to rebuke Donald Trump over Syria fails in Senate

Senators fought Thursday over how to try to patch up the mess in Syria, but it quickly became clear that beyond being frustrated with President Trump, there's little unity on what, exactly, the U.S. should do. Published October 17, 2019

Senate rejects attempt to revive Obama climate change policy

Democrats' attempt to reinstate Obama-era global warming controls went down to defeat in the Senate Thursday, with a bipartisan majority rejecting them. Published October 17, 2019

William Barr, in Notre Dame speech, blasts ‘militant secularists’ over assault on religion

Attorney General William P. Barr offered a withering evisceration of anti-religious sentiment, defending the central role of Judeo-Christian moral standards in American democracy, accusing "militant secularists" of an assault on religion that's become as intolerant as religions they criticize. Published October 16, 2019

State Department lifts hold on foreign aid to Central America

The Trump administration cleared the way Wednesday for tens of millions of dollars in foreign assistance money to flow to Central American countries, reversing a blockade put in place last spring. Published October 16, 2019

Mitch McConnell: Congress limited in ability to stop Trump’s Syria pullout

President Trump's troop withdrawal from Syria was "a mistake," the Senate's top Republican said Wednesday -- but he acknowledged there aren't many options for Congress to rope him in. Published October 16, 2019

Trump used anti-Taliban funds to build border wall: Democrats

Congressional Democrats lashed out at President Trump on Wednesday over his border wall plans, saying they've learned he cut $129 million from funds to fight drug trafficking in Afghanistan and is spending it instead on the wall here at home. Published October 16, 2019

Ken Cuccinelli: Birthright citizenship can be changed without amending Constitution

The government's citizenship chief said Wednesday that there's no need to amend the Constitution to stop automatic citizenship being granted to immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally, though he said he's not sure whether President Trump could act alone or if it would take a law from Congress. Published October 16, 2019

Congress struggles to counter Donald Trump on Syria

Lawmakers streamed back to Washington Tuesday determined to fight President Trump's troop pullout from Syria -- but they struggled to figure out exactly what they can do about it. Published October 15, 2019

Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer set vote to rebuke Trump on Syria

Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill announced a bipartisan resolution Tuesday to rebuke President Trump for his decision to pull U.S. troops from Syria, and said it's time Republicans join them in spanking the president for reckless decisions. Published October 15, 2019

Trump ‘emoluments’ case to be reheard by full federal appeals court

A federal appeals court agreed Tuesday to rehear a case in which Maryland and the District of Columbia accused President Trump of violating the Constitution by earning income from his hotels while in office. Published October 15, 2019

Bernie Sanders’ plans would put half of U.S. on gov’t payrolls: Study

If a President Bernard Sanders got his way, taxpayers could be on the hook for a staggering $97.5 trillion in new spending over the next decade, according to an analysis Tuesday of the White House hopeful's plans. Published October 15, 2019

ICE says New York defied deportation request to release child abuser

New York authorities released a convicted child abuser into the community, defying an ICE request that he be held for deportation, and he went on to be arrested for yet another case of abuse, federal officials said Tuesday. Published October 15, 2019

Impeachment calls may cause gridlock on deals in House

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her troops will face that question head-on, with Democrats increasingly agitating for the impeachment route and President Trump and fellow Republicans saying that will squelch any chances at doing big bipartisan deals on legislation. Published October 14, 2019

King County, Washington, officials shun ICE despite second sanctuary city-related killing

Prosecutors last week announced a second sanctuary city-related murder case involving an illegal immigrant in the Seattle area, but that has yet to shake local officials who despite the brutality of the slayings say they are not yet ready to begin working with ICE. Published October 14, 2019

Andrew Brunson, former Turkey ‘hostage,’ to pray at U.S. Senate on Tuesday

Andrew Brunson, the American pastor who was held captive in Turkey sparking a row between that country and the U.S., will deliver the opening prayer in the Senate on Tuesday. Published October 14, 2019

Trump immigration agenda in peril after rulings, Kevin McAleenan departure

President Trump had been on a winning streak on immigration, but that progress is suddenly imperiled after a series of court setbacks and the departure of acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin K. McAleenan, the architect of much of the recent success. Published October 13, 2019

Trump broke law with border wall emergency, judge rules

President Trump's proclamation declaring a border wall emergency is illegal, a federal judge in Texas ruled Friday, throwing a new hurdle in front of the government's plans to build hundreds of miles of new barriers. Published October 11, 2019