Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Final tally: DHS released 622 criminals as part of sequester
Two key senators said Thursday that Homeland Security officials should face discipline for their role earlier this year in releasing 622 criminal immigrants, including 32 with multiple felony convictions, in a move the Obama administration initially blamed on the budget sequester cuts. Published May 16, 2013
Securing border driving House’s immigration efforts
Even as the Senate is pushing its massive immigration bill, the House is beginning to move pieces of the puzzle through its committees with a vote Wednesday to force the Obama administration to stiffen border security. Published May 15, 2013
Tea party group targeted by IRS suspected opposition research for Obama campaign
When the chairman of one of the tea party groups targeted by the IRS for special scrutiny saw the agency's questions, his first thought was that the queries were so outrageous that the Obama administration was engaging in campaign opposition research. Published May 15, 2013
Rubio lists amendments to sweeten immigration bill
Sen. Marco Rubio's office circulated a list this month of ways to toughen security in the immigration bill he helped negotiate, including potential amendments to cut down on chain migration, to require newly legal immigrants to show financial self-sufficiency and to build 700 miles of double-tier fencing along the border. Published May 15, 2013
Boehner on IRS: ‘Who’s going to jail over this scandal?’
House Speaker John A. Boehner said Wednesday that it'll take more than firings to clear up the IRS scandal — it'll take someone ending up serving jail time. Published May 15, 2013
‘Sequester’ cuts force halt to California oil, gas lease sales
The Obama administration this month canceled onshore oil and gas lease sales in California for the rest of this year, blaming the "sequester" budget cuts — but acknowledging they were breaking yet another federal law that requires them to hold the sales. Published May 14, 2013
Federal deficit to drop well below $1 trillion
The federal deficit this year will be $642 billion, according to an estimate Tuesday from the Congressional Budget Office that marks the first time President Obama will have overseen a deficit of less than $1 trillion. Published May 14, 2013
Crumbling coalition? First cracks in immigration deal emerge
Senators fended off changes to the immigration bill in committee on Tuesday, but the first cracks emerged in the carefully crafted compromise between business groups and labor unions, leaving even some supporters frustrated at the defensive votes they had to cast. Published May 14, 2013
Obama pressed to halt deportations as immigration debated
Immigration rights groups see such good prospects for legalizing illegal immigrants this year that President Obama should go ahead and halt deportations right now, saying it's unfair to kick people out just ahead of possible legalization. Published May 13, 2013
Independent study raises the bar for border security, immigration reform
The yardstick used in the immigration bill to determine border control may produce too rosy a picture of how well the Border Patrol is doing in cracking down on illegal crossings, according to an independent study released Monday that threatens to upend the immigration debate. Published May 13, 2013
Senators kill amendments tied to bill on immigration; border security issue put on back burner
The Senate immigration bill survived its first tests Thursday as a core group of Republicans and Democrats held together, killing efforts to require full border security requirements before legalizing illegal immigrants. Published May 9, 2013
Republicans boycott vote for EPA nominee Gina McCarthy
Gina McCarthy's already bumpy road to becoming Environmental Protection Agency administrator took another detour Thursday morning when Senate Republicans boycotted a committee vote on her nomination, blocking it for now. Published May 9, 2013
Senate bill doesn’t stop most illegal immigration: Fed study
The Senate immigration bill would put about 8 million illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship, boost the economy and stop about 2 million would-be illegal immigrants — about half of the expected total over the next decade — from entering the U.S., according to the first government evaluation of the proposal released Wednesday. Published May 8, 2013
Senate defeats expansion of gun rights
The Senate beat back a new push to expand gun rights Wednesday, defeating a plan to let gun owners carry their weapons on federal lands in states where it would otherwise be legal. Published May 8, 2013
Two-thirds of senators to vote on U.S.-Mexico border without having seen it
Border security is a key sticking point in this year's immigration debate, but only a little more than one-third of senators have been to the southwestern border during their time in office to get a firsthand look at the security situation, according to a survey of the chamber's members by The Washington Times. Published May 7, 2013
Obama administration tries to nix ICE agents’ lawsuit
Trying to head off a potentially devastating court defeat, the Obama administration said Monday that ICE agents' lawsuit to overturn the president's non-deportation policy should be thrown out because the agents themselves initially wanted to handle the matter in collective bargaining. Published May 7, 2013
Tax increases begin to ease budget deficit
Federal tax revenues are up 16 percent this year compared to 2012, helping power a major drop in the federal deficit, according to the latest estimate Tuesday from the Congressional Budget Office. Published May 7, 2013
Border Patrol: Rules hinder effort to oust drug spotters
The chief of the U.S. Border Patrol said Tuesday that his agents have a tough time ousting armed drug cartel spotters from the tops of U.S. mountains because the rules of engagement constrain them. Published May 7, 2013
DHS management problems could hinder immigration bill: audit
The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee introduced amendments Tuesday to grant gay couples the same immigration rights as other married couples, setting up a key hurdle for the immigration bill. Published May 7, 2013
Report: Legalizing illegal immigrants to cost $6.3 trillion
The Heritage Foundation said Monday that legalizing illegal immigrants would cost taxpayers a net $6.3 trillion over the next 50 years — releasing a report that ignited a venomous battle over an immigration bill and who is truly representing the conservative movement in the debate. Published May 6, 2013
