Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Feds catch convicted murderer in migrant caravan: DHS
Homeland Security said Friday that a convicted murderer was among the members of the migrant caravan, and was caught trying to sneak into the U.S. late last week. Published November 30, 2018
Judge OKs sanctuary cities, rules anti-sanctuary law unconstitutional
A federal judge in New York has ruled the Trump sanctuary city crackdown illegal Friday -- but even went further and also ruled the law Congress passed requiring information-sharing is unconstitutional. Published November 30, 2018
Illegal immigrant pulls gun on Border Patrol agent
Violence against Border Patrol agents continued to spiral this week with authorities reporting one agent held at gunpoint by an illegal immigrant in California, and two agents in Arizona facing attacks by hand. Published November 29, 2018
Teen accused of video-game rape is illegal immigrant: DHS
The Florida teen accused of raping a girl while still broadcasting live on a video game audio feed is an illegal immigrant who came to the country 17 years ago on a visitor's visa and never left, Homeland Security said Thursday. Published November 29, 2018
Schumer says Trump in middle of border wall ‘temper tantrum’
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer accused President Trump of throwing a "temper tantrum" over his demand for $5 billion in border wall money, and said Thursday that Democrats will never vote for that. Published November 29, 2018
Adam Schiff: Other Trump allies lied to Congress
Get ready for a flurry of demands for more people to be charged with lying to Congress. Published November 29, 2018
Chuck Schumer says after Michael Cohen’s plea, Congress must protect Mueller probe
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Thursday that the guilty plea by former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen should be the final straw that pushes Congress to vote on legislation to protect the special counsel probe from being ended. Published November 29, 2018
Migrant caravan mostly standard illegal immigrants, not asylum seekers
The Central Americans surging into the U.S. and claiming asylum look a lot more like regular illegal immigrants, eager for better jobs or to reunite with families, than traditional refugees fleeing persecution or violence back home, according to a new report Wednesday that challenges conventional wisdom on the migrants' motives. Published November 28, 2018
MS-13 gang member caught with migrant caravan
Border Patrol agents arrested a man Saturday who had just snuck into the country, told them he came with the migrant caravan, and admitted he was a member of MS-13. Published November 28, 2018
Budget director Mick Mulvaney says Medicare, Social Security can be cut without eliminating benefits
White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said Wednesday there are still ways the administration can propose to trim spending on Social Security and Medicare without limiting basic benefits -- something President Trump has said he won't do. Published November 28, 2018
Donald Trump says pardon for Paul Manafort ‘not off the table’
President Trump said Wednesday a pardon for former campaign chairman Paul Manafort is "not off the table," while a report surfaced that Mr. Trump told special counsel Robert Mueller he wasn't aware of a 2016 Trump Tower meeting between a Russian lawyer and members of his campaign. Published November 28, 2018
Hispanic Democrats say feds should eliminate all money for border wall
Hispanic Democrats drew a red line Wednesday in budget negotiations, saying they cannot support any year-end spending bill unless it reduces the government's ability to detain illegal immigrants ahead of deportation. Published November 28, 2018
Senators fail to secure vote on bill to protect Mueller investigation
A group of senators failed Wednesday to secure a vote for their bill to protect special counsel Robert Mueller from being fired by President Trump, marking the latest stumble for their efforts to sideline the White House. Published November 28, 2018
San Diego chief patrol agent stands by using tear gas on migrants
Homeland Security officials said Tuesday that Border Patrol agents were right to use tear gas in repelling the "violent mob" that tried to burst through the border over the weekend, and said gas will be used again if another situation arises. Published November 27, 2018
El Salvador criticizes both U.S., migrant parents for border clash
The government of El Salvador complained Tuesday about the treatment of illegal immigrants on the U.S.-Mexico border, insisting both countries should use "dialogue" rather than force to control the mob of migrants that burst through the boundary fence over the weekend. Published November 27, 2018
House Dems to probe whether Trump ‘nationalist’ claims fueling hate crimes
The incoming chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said Tuesday that he and his colleagues are initiating an investigation into a rise in hate crimes, and suggested President Trump's pro-America rhetoric may be playing a role. Published November 27, 2018
Jahana Hayes now backs Nancy Pelosi for speaker’s post
Jahana Hayes, an incoming House Democrat who during the campaign flatly stated she wouldn't vote for Rep. Nancy Pelosi for House speaker, said Tuesday she has changed her mind. Published November 27, 2018
Tear gas used on migrant caravan was ‘very minor form,’ Donald Trump says
President Trump said Monday that some of the migrant caravan adults were "grabbers" who'd abducted children for their journey, and said those who come ready to do violence will face more tear gas from U.S. authorities defending the border. Published November 26, 2018
H-2B visas for temporary seasonal guest workers double under new deal
A key group of lawmakers has struck a deal to double the number of visas doled out to temporary seasonal guest workers each year, suggesting a breakthrough on an immigration issue that's bedeviled Congress for years. Published November 26, 2018
Obama administration used tear gas at border once a month
The same tear gas agent that the Trump administration is taking heat for deploying against a border mob this weekend is actually used fairly frequently -- including more than once a month during some years under President Obama, according to Homeland Security data. Published November 26, 2018