Stephen Dinan

Arizona county shutters border shelters as flow of new migrants stops

The flow of illegal immigrants being caught and released has dried up so quickly that one Arizona county is shutting down two migrant shelters, saying they aren't needed anymore. Published January 23, 2025

Texas asks to be reimbursed for $11 billion spent defending border

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott asked Congress on Thursday to give the state $11 billion in taxpayer money to reimburse it for what it's spent in recent years plugging gaps in the border left by the Biden administration. Published January 23, 2025

Montana county says DHS can use its expo center to hold illegal immigrants

Yellowstone County in Montana let the federal government know it can use the county's expo center to hold illegal immigrants for deportation. Published January 23, 2025

DHS grants immigration arrest powers to U.S. Marshals, DEA, ATF

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman on Thursday deputized agents and officers at the Justice Department to help in making immigration arrests, creating a force multiplier as President Trump seeks to carry out his promise of mass deportations. Published January 23, 2025

Federal judge blocks Trump’s birthright citizenship order

A federal judge in Seattle issued a temporary restraining order on Thursday blocking the administration from carrying out President Trump's plan to deny automatic citizenship to children of illegal immigrants. Published January 23, 2025

Mascot mess: Ernst challenges federal agencies to nix their dress-up characters

The Phillie Phanatic, the big green dress-up mascot for Philadelphia's pro baseball team, is world famous. D.C. has its racing presidents. But did the Border Patrol really need its own dress-up mascot, a German shepherd named Tracker? Published January 23, 2025

DHS cancels COVID vaccine mandate for migrants getting green cards

Homeland Security on Wednesday nixed the requirement that migrants prove they've gotten the coronavirus vaccine before they can get green cards. Published January 22, 2025

Blitz on illegal immigration underway with troops to border, DOJ investigating sanctuary cities

Congress delivered on a major part of President Trump's immigration agenda Wednesday, giving final approval to a bill that requires Homeland Security to detain and try to deport illegal immigrants accused of minor crimes such as shoplifting. Published January 22, 2025

Congress passes Laken Riley Act, sends bill to Trump to sign

Congress passed the first bill of the new Trump era on Wednesday, delivering on the president's immigration promises with legislation to push for detention and deportation of criminal migrants -- including those with relatively low-level offenses such as shoplifting. Published January 22, 2025

Trump orders 1,500 troops to border

The Pentagon said Wednesday it will deploy an initial round of 1,500 troops to the southern border, and will tap its resources to help Homeland Security with flights to deport illegal immigrants back to their home countries. Published January 22, 2025

Trump agency says employees are free to say ‘illegal’ and ‘alien’ again

The federal government's deportation agency has overturned a Biden-era ban on using words like "illegal" and "alien" when referring to immigrants, The Washington Times has learned. Published January 22, 2025

Trump’s DOJ announces crackdown on sanctuary cities

The Trump Justice Department has begun the battle against sanctuary cities, ordering its prosecutors to open investigations into state and local officials who try to thwart enforcement of immigration laws. Published January 22, 2025

Legal blitz begins right after Trump takes office; opponents ready to fight agenda

The echo of President Trump's oath of office had barely subsided when the first lawsuits were filed to derail his plans. Published January 21, 2025

DHS cancels Biden’s sanctuary policy blocking immigration arrests near ‘sensitive’ locations

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman has canceled a Biden-era policy that blocked agents and officers from arresting unauthorized immigrants near "sensitive" locations such as hospitals, schools, parks and day care centers. Published January 21, 2025

House GOP eyes birthright citizenship bill to back Trump’s executive order

Rep. Brian Babin announced a bill Tuesday to deny birthright citizenship to children of illegal immigrants, moving to add some legislative heft to President Trump's new crusade. Published January 21, 2025

Trump faces first lawsuit over move to limit birthright citizenship

Immigration groups came out swinging against President Trump on Monday with a lawsuit asking a federal judge to overturn his executive order blocking illegal immigrants and other temporary visitors from obtaining birthright citizenship for their babies born on U.S. soil. Published January 20, 2025

Border Patrol agent shot and killed along northern border

A Border Patrol agent was shot and killed along the northern border Monday. Published January 20, 2025

Trump’s new era of immigration enforcement begins

With 10 quick signatures on Monday, newly inaugurated President Trump sought to demolish the Biden administration's immigration framework and launch what promises to be the stiffest border in U.S. history. Published January 20, 2025

Senate passes Laken Riley Act to detain more illegal immigrants

Senators on Monday approved the first major immigration crackdown of the new Trump administration by passing the Laken Riley Act, which will push the federal government to detain and deport illegal migrants who commit even minor crimes such as shoplifting. Published January 20, 2025

Joyless luck club: Kamala Harris faces uncertain future as VP term ends

As she departed government on Monday, former Vice President Kamala Harris found herself staring at a grim political future. Published January 20, 2025