Stephen Dinan

Donald Trump demands Senate vote on his immigration plan

The White House asked GOP leaders Thursday to put President Trump's immigration framework up for a vote in the Senate when the chamber begins its debate in coming weeks, moving to make his four-point plan the basis for the looming floor fight. Published February 1, 2018

Immigration deal sought to protect Dreamers, avoid contentious issues

The president's forceful calls over the past week for bipartisanship on immigration failed to move the needle at all, as lawmakers began to look for a slimmed-down deal to protect Dreamers without broaching the big issues in the immigration debate. Published January 31, 2018

Syrians’ protected status extended by Homeland Security

The Trump administration said Wednesday it will fully renew special humanitarian protections for Syrians caught in the U.S. during the height of that country's civil war, but won't open the window to anyone who came after 2016. Published January 31, 2018

Voters approve of Trump immigration plan: CBS poll

Congress may not be big on President Trump's four-point immigration plan but those who watched his State of the Union address liked it, according to a CBS News poll. Published January 31, 2018

U.S. asylum system facing rampant ‘fraud and abuse’ from illegals

Homeland Security has reached a "crisis" in the asylum system with illegal immigrants gaming the system, the department said Wednesday, announcing new changes to try to speed things up so undeserving applicants can be deported. Published January 31, 2018

Trey Gowdy to retire

Rep. Trey Gowdy, a rising star among conservative Republicans, said Wednesday he will retire from politics and return to being a lawyer. Published January 31, 2018

Bob Menendez won’t be tried, Justice Dept. says

The Justice Department moved Wednesday to cancel its corruption case against Sen. Bob Menendez, saying that it no longer saw a path to conviction given the constraints the court has placed upon it. Published January 31, 2018

Court upholds Obama-era Wall Street cop bureau as constitutional

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau -- the controversial Wall Street cop Congress set up in the wake of the 2008 collapse -- is constitutional, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday, delivering a major win to liberals who had pushed for the independent watchdog. Published January 31, 2018

Trump campaign’s speech fundraiser breaks ethics rules: Watchdog

A campaign watchdog demanded an ethics investigation Wednesday into whether Congress broke its own rules by allowing President Trump to use a live video stream to raise money for his re-election campaign. Published January 31, 2018

Democrats reject Trump plea for bipartisanship on immigration

President Trump's call Tuesday for Congress to reach a bipartisan deal on immigration failed to entice Democrats, who called him everything from divisive to "explicitly racist." Published January 30, 2018

Trump on immigration deal: ‘Americans are dreamers too’

President Trump offered Democrats a bipartisan opening on immigration in his State of the Union address Tuesday night, saying he's willing to work with them to legalize illegal immigrant "Dreamers," but Americans cannot be left behind. Published January 30, 2018

Democrats bring politically charged guests to State of the Union

The real action at State of the Union speeches has leaped from the House floor to the public viewing galleries up above, where lawmakers are increasingly using the guest list to make pointed public statements. Published January 30, 2018

Democrats refuse to stand for Trump arrival at State of the Union

Most Democratic lawmakers, dressed in black, refused to stand to greet President Trump for his first State of the Union address Tuesday night, setting the tone for one of the most divisive receptions for a president in modern history. Published January 30, 2018

Melania Trump gets lukewarm State of the Union greeting from Democrats

First lady Melania Trump's arrival at her husband's State of the Union address Tuesday night drew enthusiastic applause from Republicans, but Democrats were less than attentive. Published January 30, 2018

4 Supreme Court justices attend Trump State of the Union

Four Supreme justices were in attendance for President Trump's first State of the Union speech Tuesday. Published January 30, 2018

Democrats stumble on border security in bid for immigration deal

Democrats say they are willing to accept tough border security as part of an amnesty for illegal immigrant "Dreamers," but they've offered few substantive ideas for what that means in practice, struggling to move beyond a vague call for more "technology" as the solution. Published January 30, 2018

Border Patrol arrests third ‘Dreamer’ for smuggling illegal immigrants

The Border Patrol announced its third arrest of an illegal immigrant "Dreamer" on smuggling charges this week, saying agents nabbed a 26-year-old man who had picked up four illegal immigrants who sneaked into the U.S. from Mexico. Published January 30, 2018

Tim Ryan leaving State of the Union seat empty in immigration protest

Rep. Tim Ryan said he's leaving his guest seat for Tuesday's State of the Union empty as a protest against President Trump's immigration plans, after a constituent of his was deported earlier this week. Published January 30, 2018

Paul Gosar, Arizona Republican, demands illegal immigrants be arrested at State of the Union

An Arizona congressman asked police to check IDs of guests for Tuesday's State of the Union address and to arrest any illegal immigrants in attendance -- sparking outrage from immigrant-rights activists who labeled the idea "disgusting." Published January 30, 2018

GOP moderates embrace Trump immigration plan

President Trump's immigration plan won a significant statement of support Tuesday from the Republican Main Street Caucus, a group of 75 more moderate-leaning GOP lawmakers who said the president's principles echo their own goals for an immigration deal. Published January 30, 2018