Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Border Patrol agents discover people-smuggling tunnel on U.S.-Mexico border
Border Patrol agents uncovered a tunnel in San Diego early Saturday that they said was used to smuggle illegal immigrants across the border -- a rare tactic that suggests the cartels that control illicit traffic from Mexico to the U.S. are searching for new methods. Published August 27, 2017
John McCain leads criticism of Trump over Arpaio pardon
While most Republicans remained silent on the pardon, Mr. McCain, an Arizona Republican who has frequently battled both Mr. Arpaio and Mr. Trump, released a statement saying the president had undercut his own proclamations of law and order. Published August 26, 2017
First phase of Trump border wall back on track
The first phase of President Trump's border wall is back on track after the Government Accountability Office dismissed contract protests that were holding construction of prototypes, officials said late Friday. Published August 26, 2017
Joe Arpaio pardoned by Donald Trump
President Trump issued the first pardon of his tenure Friday to former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, even before the lawman was sentenced for his conviction on a contempt of court charge. Published August 25, 2017
Social Security fraud judge gets 4 years in prison
The Social Security judge who rubber-stamped more than 1,700 bogus disability applications as part of the largest disability fraud ring in American history was sentenced to four years in federal prison Friday. Published August 25, 2017
Massive marijuana load fired across border wall in Arizona
It didn't land on anyone's head, as President Trump warned, but a massive load of drugs -- nearly 100 pounds -- was launched across the border fence in Douglas, Arizona, earlier this week. Published August 25, 2017
ACLU asks Border Patrol to stop enforcement during Texas hurricane
The ACLU asked the Border Patrol to shut down its checkpoints in Texas Friday, saying illegal immigrants fleeing Hurricane Harvey shouldn't have to worry about being nabbed. Published August 25, 2017
Man nabbed smuggling endangered baby Bengal tiger across U.S.-Mexico border
Two men tried to smuggle a Bengal tiger cub into the U.S. from Mexico this week, claiming it was just a house cat. Published August 24, 2017
Kris Kobach pressured to testify on Trump voter panel
Opponents of President Trump's voter integrity commission asked a federal judge Thursday for permission to depose Vice Chairman Kris Kobach as they seek to force the panel to be more transparent about what it's doing. Published August 24, 2017
Paul Ryan: Congress will miss Sept. deadline for spending bills
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said Thursday that Congress will blow past the Sept. 30 deadline for approving new funding for 2018, saying the government will need to operate off stop-gap spending for several months. Published August 24, 2017
Chuck Schumer says Charlottesville violence is reason to cancel Donald Trump voter commission
The top Democrat in the U.S. Senate demanded Thursday that President Trump disband his commission designed to investigate voter fraud, saying it stems from the same hateful ideology that spurred neo-Nazis and white supremacists in Charlottesville earlier this month. Published August 24, 2017
Pelosi: Dems in no hurry to help GOP with debt ceiling
Democrats hinted Thursday that they won't be too eager to help the GOP raise the government's debt ceiling later this year, adding another partisan problem to Republicans' list of challenges. Published August 24, 2017
Donald Trump shutdown threat over border wall funding blasted by Democrats
President Trump's willingness to brave a government shutdown in order to get funding for his border wall roiled Capitol Hill, where Democrats on Wednesday called him reckless and redoubled their promise to resist anymore money for the president's immigration crackdown plans. Published August 23, 2017
4 countries sanctioned because of refusal to accept deported immigrants
A Homeland Security spokesman said Wednesday that a "variety of factors" went into the decision to impose sanctions on four countries that refuse to cooperate with the U.S. government when it comes to taking back their illegal and criminal immigrants. Published August 23, 2017
Democrats demand Trump pull nominee who called Obama officials ‘racist’
Democrats' have identified their next target among President Trump's slate of obstructed nominees, demanding the White House withdraw the appointment of Samuel H. Clovis Jr. to be an undersecretary at the Agriculture Department. Published August 23, 2017
Donald Trump visits Arizona in push for wall funding, more border agents
President Trump did a quick tour Tuesday of border security infrastructure in Arizona as his top homeland security aides stepped up pressure on Congress to approve money for new fencing and additional agents, saying they will keep Americans safe and prevent illegal immigrants from making the dangerous journey in the first place. Published August 22, 2017
Donald Trump hits four countries with visa sanctions for refusing to accept criminals
The Trump administration has triggered visa sanctions against four countries that have refused to take back citizens the U.S. is trying to deport — tapping a little-used but very effective tool for forcing compliance. Published August 22, 2017
Donald Trump to tout border security success as humanitarian victory
Better border security and stiffer immigration enforcement isn't just good for America -- it will also keep vulnerable migrants from making the dangerous journey north, risking robbery, rape or death at the hands of smugglers and rough terrain, top Trump administration officials said Tuesday. Published August 22, 2017
Border fencing, more agents and prosecutions cause drop in Yuma, Arizona, border crossings
The number of illegal immigrants arrested -- a rough yardstick for the overall flow -- has dropped by a staggering 90 percent in the Border Patrol's Yuma Sector. Published August 22, 2017
Paul Ryan: I won’t support a congressional censure on Donald Trump
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said Monday that President Trump "messed up" in his response to the racial demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia, but warned against trying to politicize the response, saying that would "descend this issue into some partisan hack-fest." Published August 21, 2017
