Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Andrew Hanen, immigration amnesty judge, gets Justice apology for late revelation of 3-year action
The Justice Department checked with the White House before informing a federal judge that it was already carrying out part of President Obama's immigration amnesty, administration attorneys revealed in documents filed in court late last week as they tried to head off a judicial spanking. Published May 3, 2015
Alejandro Mayorkas can’t remember Democrats seeking visa favors, only Republicans
The deputy homeland security secretary said repeatedly Thursday that he couldn't remember conversations in which he was accused of giving special treatment to high-profile Democrats seeking visas for wealthy foreign clients — but did say he could recall Republicans making the same kinds of inquiries. Published April 30, 2015
IRS still targeting tea party: Nine groups awaiting agency approval
Nine tea party groups were still awaiting IRS approval for nonprofit status nearly two years after the political targeting program was exposed, the inspector general said in a report Thursday that, despite hiccups, claimed the tax agency has generally done a good job of cleaning up its act. Published April 30, 2015
John Boehner denies saying Congress can’t stop Iran nuclear deal
House Speaker John A. Boehner said it's too soon to tell if Congress could muster the votes to stop a bad Iran nuclear deal struck by President Obama, denying a report that he'd already admitted defeat to a private audience last weekend. Published April 30, 2015
NSA snooping program on last legs after anti-Patriot Act vote
The NSA's phone-snooping program is likely on its last legs after a key House committee voted overwhelmingly Thursday to end the Patriot Act's bulk-collection powers that the government was relying on to keep the phone program up and running. Published April 30, 2015
Jeh Johnson touts border security, eyes improvements
Homeland Security still won't have a complete handle on the border by the end of President Obama's tenure, department Secretary Jeh Johnson admitted to Congress on Wednesday, though he said they are quickly getting better. Published April 29, 2015
Obama rejects investigation into guest-worker program abuse
The Obama administration this week rejected a request from Congress to investigate potential abuses in the country's key guest-worker program for tech workers, insisting it would "be premature" to look into Southern California Edison's use of the controversial H-1B visa to outsource jobs. Published April 29, 2015
Fast-track trade authority support grows with assurances of no Obama immigration policy
Fearful of immigration's power to sink any issue it touches, the administration and Republican leaders on Capitol Hill are doing everything they can to try to make the case that immigration is totally unrelated to the looming Pacific trade deal and the fast-track trade authority President Obama says will be needed to conclude the negotiations. Published April 28, 2015
NFL to drop tax-free status after complaints
The National Football League said Tuesday it will give up its tax-exempt status, with Commissioner Roger Goodell saying complaints that the wealthy league was skimming millions of dollars from taxpayers had become a "distraction." Published April 28, 2015
Jeh Johnson: Amnesty for ‘Top Model’ murder suspect a ‘tragic’ mistake
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said it was a "tragic" mistake for his department to grant a temporary amnesty to an illegal immigrant who has since been accused of four murders, but acknowledged Tuesday that more than 280 other illegal immigrants also have had their amnesties rescinded because of criminal or gang-related behavior. Published April 28, 2015
Obama-backed green energy failures leave taxpayers with $2.2 billion tab, audit finds
Taxpayers are on the hook for more than $2.2 billion in expected costs from the federal government's energy loan guarantee programs, according to a new audit Monday that suggests the controversial projects may not pay for themselves, as officials had promised. Published April 27, 2015
Illegal immigration plummets along southwest border: DHS
The flow of illegal immigrants has dropped to its lowest level in years judging by the number being apprehended along the border, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Friday as he sought to be more transparent about his department's performance. Published April 24, 2015
Illegal immigrant deportations plummet as Obama amnesty hampers removal efforts
Deportations have plummeted by another 25 percent so far this year, with the government even struggling to find enough criminals to kick out of the country, according to the latest statistics that suggest President Obama's amnesty has hampered removal efforts. Published April 23, 2015
Immigration agency: Single Hispanic females deserve asylum in U.S.
Being a single mother or witnessing a gang crime could be enough for Central American illegal immigrants to get on the path to asylum under guidance the Homeland Security Department issued last week, opening new ways for the surge of illegal immigrants to gain a legal foothold in the U.S. Published April 23, 2015
Loretta Lynch confirmed as attorney general to replace Eric Holder
Loretta Lynch won confirmation as the new attorney general Thursday, surviving a deeply partisan vote that reflected Republicans' anger at President Obama more than worry over Ms. Lynch, who will be the first black woman to hold the top law enforcement post. Published April 23, 2015
Loretta Lynch clears filibuster, poised to become first black woman AG
Senators were on track to approve Loretta Lynch to be the new attorney general, defeating an early filibuster attempt Thursday morning, with a final vote scheduled later in the afternoon on what Democrats said was a major civil rights milestone. Published April 23, 2015
Nancy Pelosi says trade fight isn’t attack on Obama
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi insisted Thursday that she's fighting with, not against, President Obama on trade, saying her criticism of his request for fast-track authority to negotiate free trade deals is meant to be constructive. Published April 23, 2015
Senate panel approves deputy attorney general, Loretta Lynch vote to come
The Senate Judiciary Committee cleared Sally Quillian Yates Thursday to be the next deputy attorney general, granting her bipartisan support that stood in stark contrast to the bitter partisan divide over Loretta Lynch, the women facing a final vote on becoming the top official at the Justice Department. Published April 23, 2015
Marco Rubio emerges as top GOP contender; Hillary Clinton favorables drop in poll
Sen. Marco Rubio has emerged as the strongest candidate in the GOP presidential field, topping the rest of his announced and potential rivals for the nomination and running best against top Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, according to a new Quinnipiac University Poll Thursday. Published April 23, 2015
Obama undercut by Elizabeth Warren, Democrats on Asia trade deal
President Obama lost the first skirmish Wednesday in his push for fast-track powers to negotiate trade deals with Asian and Pacific nations when the Senate Finance Committee voted for tougher penalties on countries deemed guilty of manipulating their currencies — a move the administration says could threaten the negotiations. Published April 22, 2015
