Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Illegal immigrants set free from detention centers as sequester approaches
The sequester is officially still several days away but the Obama administration is already making the first cuts, with officials confirming that the Homeland Security Department has released several hundred illegal immigrants from detention in order to save money. Published February 26, 2013
White House raises terror threat, warns illegals could flood borders after sequester cuts
The Obama administration on Monday warned the nation to expect an increase in illegal immigration if the automatic budget cuts go into effect Friday — the latest caution from a White House determined to raise the heat on congressional Republicans. Published February 25, 2013
IRS audit finds ‘millions’ in waste
Everyone always wants the latest technology, but a government auditor said Tuesday that the Internal Revenue Service wasted millions of dollars on BlackBerrys and wireless modem aircards that employees don't need or even use. Published February 19, 2013
IRS tax fraud: Agency wastes taxpayer cash on Blackberrys and aircards, audit finds
The IRS wasted millions of dollars on BlackBerrys and wireless modem aircards that employees don't need or even use. Published February 19, 2013
Federal salary freeze passes House
The House voted Friday morning to freeze civilian federal salaries for another year as lawmakers continue to look under every cushion for money they can squeeze out of the budget. Published February 15, 2013
Budget-busting burgers: Beef, chicken supply could be casualties of Congress, Obama sequester fight
With the automatic cuts looming March 1, the Obama administration is offering more specifics on what lower spending would mean, pointing to everything from fewer agents on the U.S.-Mexico border to cutting funding for special education in school districts around the country. Published February 14, 2013
Obama made no phone calls on night of Benghazi attack, White House says
President Obama made no phone calls the night of the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, the White House said in a letter to Congress released Thursday. Published February 14, 2013
Chuck Hagel filibustered by GOP for defense post
Republicans succeeded Thursday in blocking a vote on Chuck Hagel, President Obama's defense secretary nominee, by launching the first filibuster in history against a president's choice to fill the Pentagon's top civilian post. Published February 14, 2013
Jose Antonio Vargas testifies for illegal immigrants
At the witness table at Wednesday's Senate hearing on immigration reform sat the head of the labor union for immigration enforcement agents. Two seats away, at the same table, sat an illegal immigrant — testifying without fear of deportation thanks to President Obama's new policies. Published February 13, 2013
DHS chief: Menendez intern should have been deported earlier
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Wednesday that she didn't order immigration agents to delay arresting an illegal immigrant and registered sex offender working for Sen. Robert Menendez's New Jersey office in the middle of his re-election campaign last year. Published February 13, 2013
Napolitano: No need to bind amnesty to border security
Homeland Security Secretary Janet A. Napolitano told lawmakers Wednesday that the southwest border is more secure than ever and warned against holding legalization hostage to more border security — prompting a key Republican to warn the Obama administration that it is endangering chances for a bill this year. Published February 13, 2013
Obama skips solutions for Social Security
Left out of President Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night was any mention of shoring up Social Security or Medicaid — two of the three entitlement programs that will drive the growth of federal debt over the coming decades. Published February 12, 2013
Woman tossed out of Obama’s State of the Union speech for shouting support for gun control
A woman was tossed out of the public viewing galleries at Tuesday's State of the Union after shouting out in support of President Obama's demand for Congress to vote on gun control. Published February 12, 2013
ICE agents want a say in immigration talks Union sends letter to White House
The head of the union for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents sent a letter to President Obama on Tuesday asking to be included in future meetings he has on immigration after the agents were left out of White House talks with business groups and immigrant-rights activists. Published February 12, 2013
Obama goes 8 for 20 from last year’s State of Union pledges
It was one of the best one-liners of any recent State of the Union address: President Obama, joking about government waste, said the Commerce Department is in charge of salmon fishing in saltwater, the Interior Department handles them when they’re in freshwater — “and I hear it gets even more complicated once they’re smoked.” Published February 12, 2013
Senate renews Violence Against Women Act on 78-22 vote
Treading on touchy territory, the Senate on Tuesday defeated a plan to push states to test accused rapists for sexually transmitted diseases, so their victims could then know what treatments to get. Published February 12, 2013
EXCLUSIVE: Immigration agents demand seat at Obama’s talks
The head of the union for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents sent a letter to President Obama on Tuesday asking to be included in future meetings he has on immigration after the agents were left out of White House talks with business groups and immigrant-rights activists. Published February 12, 2013
Senate panel sets vote on defense pick Hagel
Democrats on Monday said they will press ahead with Chuck Hagel's nomination to be the next secretary of defense, daring Republicans to try to derail his nomination over charges that neither he nor the Obama administration have disclosed enough information. Published February 11, 2013
Immigration evolves in State of the Union speeches
From President Clinton's stern 1995 call to stop "the large numbers of illegal aliens" taking American jobs to President Obama's plea last year for legalizing "responsible young people" to work in the U.S. economy, the politics of immigration can be traced through State of the Union addresses. Published February 11, 2013
Obama threatens severe cuts if no agreement
The White House on Sunday stepped up pressure on Republicans to adopt a short-term budget patch that would cancel the $85 billion in spending "sequesters" due on March 1, saying that government spending is still needed to prop up a stubbornly sluggish economy. Published February 10, 2013
