Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
U.S. freezes assets of Mexican cartel ‘narco-rapper’
The Trump administration expanded its war on Mexico's cartels Wednesday by freezing the assets of leaders of Cartel del Noreste and "narco-rapper" El Makabelico, whom U.S. authorities said uses his concerts to launder money for the designated foreign terrorist organization. Published August 6, 2025
Supreme Court, Justice Department push back on lower courts over emergency docket orders
Critics have berated President Trump because they fear he will defy the courts. In recent weeks, however, federal judges have tested the boundaries of the law, with a series of rulings that seem to challenge Supreme Court pronouncements. Published August 6, 2025
Court orders California to rethink its ban on hiring illegal immigrants at state schools
A court ordered the University of California to consider hiring migrants, ruling this week that the state's fair employment law allows them jobs even if they're here illegally. Published August 6, 2025
Trump creates credibility crisis for Labor Department’s monthly jobs report
Experts on all sides of the political divide said the Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers, while facing some challenges, are not being manipulated to aid Democrats or derail President Trump. Published August 5, 2025
Justice Department names and shames sanctuary jurisdictions
The Justice Department named and shamed sanctuary jurisdictions Tuesday, publishing its first list of 12 states, four counties and 19 cities it said try to thwart migrant deportations. Published August 5, 2025
DHS to refuse entry to transgender male athletes seeking to compete in women’s sports
The Department of Homeland Security has entered the gender war, announcing Monday it will refuse to issue visas to biologically male foreign athletes who seek to compete in the U.S. as women. Published August 4, 2025
Out of order? AI hallucinations suspected in withdrawal of federal judges’ questionable rulings
AI hallucinations aren't just for high school students. Federal judges are apparently turning over their jobs to chatbots and suffering the consequences. Published August 3, 2025
Supreme Court orders more briefing in dispute over Louisiana congressional map
The Supreme Court has asked litigants in a major voting rights case to file briefs over whether it's constitutional to allow states to carve out legislative districts to boost racial minorities' electoral power. Published August 2, 2025
Trump’s border winning streak continues with record-low illegal crossings in July
President Trump's winning streak on illegal immigration continues, with July once again breaking records for the lowest number of arrests at the southern boundary. Published August 1, 2025
Voters embrace leniency for migrants in farms, hotels, construction
Americans are prepared to show leniency to illegal immigrants who work on farms or in the hospitality industry, according to new polling that found voters like the idea of carving them out of deportations and offering them legal status. Published August 1, 2025
Judge says DHS can’t use fast deportation on Biden parole migrants
A federal judge ruled Friday that the Department of Homeland Security can't use a speedy process known as "expedited removal" to oust millions of migrants the Biden administration allowed in using a legally iffy parole program. Published August 1, 2025
ICE is deporting people at record pace: Nearly 1,300 per day
ICE is now deporting nearly 1,300 people a day, according to the latest agency data that underscores the Trump administration's ramp-up. Published August 1, 2025
Biden judge blocks Trump from ending deportation amnesty for Honduras, Nicaragua, Nepal
A federal judge ordered Homeland Security to continue a deportation amnesty for migrants from Honduras, Nicaragua and Nepal, slamming President Trump for complaining that illegal immigrants were "poisoning the blood of our country." Published July 31, 2025
Appeals court skeptical of Trump’s tariffs
Federal appeals court judges challenged President Trump's claim of expansive emergency powers to slap tariffs on the rest of the globe, suggesting during a high-stakes hearing Thursday that he's stretching the law too far. Published July 31, 2025
Feds charge Bulgarian with trying to sell grenade launchers, anti-aircraft guns to Mexican cartels
Federal prosecutors announced charges Thursday against an international syndicate that sought to sell rocket launchers, anti-aircraft drones and other heavy military hardware to Mexican drug cartels. Published July 31, 2025
Dem lawmakers sue ICE to demand access
A group of congressional Democrats filed a lawsuit Wednesday demanding unfettered access to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, saying the deportation agency is illegally blocking them from getting a first-hand look at what's going on. Published July 30, 2025
Texas GOP seeks to gain up to five House seats with redistricting plan; Democrats cry foul
Texas Republicans released a draft congressional district map Wednesday that could net them as many as five more seats in the U.S. House, as the GOP seeks to shore up its numbers ahead of what it fears will be a tough 2026 election. Published July 30, 2025
Overdue: Feds reveal secret list of taxpayer-funded ‘boondoggle’ transportation projects
The Department of Transportation has released a long-secret list of its most overdue and over-budget projects, revealing billions of dollars in taxpayer money committed to projects that just can't seem to get across the finish line. Published July 30, 2025
Senate confirms Trump’s lawyer Emil Bove to federal appeals court
The Senate on Tuesday voted to install Emil Bove to a lifetime seat on a federal appeals court, shunting aside Democrats' complaints and backing a man who served as President Trump's defense lawyer. Published July 29, 2025
Public broadcasting board member capitulates to Trump’s firing
Laura Ross, a member of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting board of directors who was defying President Trump's firing, has surrendered and resigned. Published July 29, 2025
