Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
DOJ asks court to allow El Salvador deportations despite Boasberg’s ruling
Administration lawyers asked a federal appeals court to end a lower court's contempt proceedings against the government, saying District Judge James Boasberg's relentless meddling in last month's deportations to El Salvador has caused a "needless constitutional confrontation." Published April 25, 2025
Feds charge Wisconsin judge with felonies for helping illegal immigrant escape ICE
The Justice Department has lodged two federal felony charges against a local judge in Wisconsin accusing her of helping an illegal immigrant duck out of her courtroom before he could be nabbed by immigration officers. Published April 25, 2025
Trump administration says machine guns aren’t protected by Second Amendment
The Trump administration is taking heat from gun rights advocates after the Justice Department argued in court that machine guns fall outside the scope of firearms guaranteed by the Second Amendment. Published April 25, 2025
ICE says illegal immigrants have ‘no less than 12 hours’ to challenge Alien Enemies deportations
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says it gives illegal immigrants it wants to deport under President Trump's expedited removal powers at least a half-day's notice before putting them on planes. Published April 24, 2025
Terrorism, RICO charges for Tren de Aragua escalate fight over Trump’s deportation powers
The Justice Department's announcement this week of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act indictments against Tren de Aragua made a statement not just about the 27 people charged but also about the organization, reach and violence of a gang that the government now deems a terrorist organization. Published April 24, 2025
Judge blocks Trump’s executive order requiring proof of citizenship to vote
A federal judge issued an injunction Thursday blocking key parts of President Trump's executive order to tighten voting rules, including provisions requiring people to provide proof of citizenship before registering to vote using a federal form. Published April 24, 2025
Three strikes: Courts shut down Trump’s attempt to end DEI in schools
Three federal judges issued rulings Thursday blocking the administration's effort to shut down diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in schools, delivering a major blow to one of President Trump's top campaign issues. Published April 24, 2025
Sanctuary cities win reprieve from Trump’s crackdown order
Sanctuary cities and counties won a preliminary injunction on Thursday blocking the administration from punishing them by withholding federal funds, with a judge saying the Trump team is stretching the law too far. Published April 24, 2025
Feds left billions in tainted pandemic loans in the hands of potential fraudsters
The Small Business Administration forgave $4.6 billion in pandemic loans to people on its naughty list, the agency's inspector general said Wednesday while scolding the government for an overly relaxed approach to recouping taxpayer money. Published April 23, 2025
Judge rules administration must produce evidence in Abrego Garcia deportation
A federal judge scolded the Trump administration Tuesday for more defiance in the case involving deported MS-13 gang suspect Kilmar Abrego Garcia, saying the government has shown "willful and intentional noncompliance." Published April 22, 2025
Judge orders feds to revive Voice of America, says Trump shutdown was illegal
A federal judge on Tuesday issued an injunction ordering the Trump administration to revive Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, immediately rehire their employees and allow them back on the air. Published April 22, 2025
Justices grill Maryland county on parent opt-out options for LGBTQ story time
Supreme Court justices on Tuesday signaled support for parents who are challenging Montgomery County's policy requiring public school students to sit through LGBT-heavy instructions on tolerance without the chance to opt out. Published April 22, 2025
Trump’s ban on transgender troops headed to the Supreme Court
The administration will ask the Supreme Court to revive President Trump's policy excluding openly transgender troops from serving in the military, a Justice Department lawyer said Tuesday. Published April 22, 2025
Supreme Court rules weekends don’t count when it comes to deportation deadlines
The Supreme Court said Tuesday that when it comes to deadlines for migrants to leave the country, Sundays and holidays can't be held against them. Published April 22, 2025
Columbia pro-Palestinian protester misses the birth of his son after ICE declined his release
Palestinian student activist Mahmoud Khalil's wife gave birth to their baby, but U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined to let him out of detention to be present. Published April 22, 2025
Feds bust 27 suspected Tren de Aragua gang associates on sex trafficking, gun, drug charges
Federal authorities announced charges Monday against more than two dozen people they say were associated with Tren de Aragua in a list of mayhem ranging from robbery and sex trafficking to murder of women who tried to escape. Published April 21, 2025
Under Trump, border catch-and-release has dropped 99.99% from worst Biden month
The change at the border between President Biden and President Trump is nothing short of staggering, and two numbers best tell that story: 189,604 and 20. Published April 21, 2025
More Democrats make pilgrimage to try to see Abrego Garcia in El Salvador
Four House Democrats announced Monday that they had arrived in El Salvador to try to see Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the deported MS-13 gang suspect who has become a rallying point for President Trump's opponents. Published April 21, 2025
Supreme Court makes ‘unprecedented’ intervention to block Trump’s gang deportations
The Supreme Court waded even more deeply into President Trump's immigration powers this weekend by ordering an emergency halt of deportations to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act as the justices signaled a striking willingness to referee administration actions. Published April 20, 2025
Supreme Court blocks another round of Trump deportations to El Salvador
The Supreme Court ordered the government not to deport another group of Venezuelans to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act, issuing an emergency order Saturday morning putting things on hold until courts can hear more arguments. Published April 19, 2025
