Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Migrants’ gun rights at issue in appeal; U.S. urges reversal of case’s dismissal
The federal government is appealing a judge's ruling that found the Constitution allows some immigrants without documentation to possess guns, plowing new ground in the quickly evolving debate over Second Amendment rights. Published April 7, 2024
Congress takes up fight over snooping; security officials oppose changes to federal spy powers
National security officials have mounted a full-court press in recent weeks to try to head off major changes to the government's most important snooping authority, warning Capitol Hill that terrorists will benefit if lawmakers require the FBI to get a warrant before querying Americans' names in its massive trove of data. Published April 7, 2024
Judge rules DHS must deliver better treatment to illegal immigrants awaiting arrest
A federal judge has ruled that illegal immigrants stuck in makeshift outdoor "detention" sites in Southern California are technically in the government's custody and agents must now follow strict rules for delivering care to the children among them. Published April 5, 2024
President of EcoHealth Alliance to testify to Congress; firm tied to risky research at Wuhan lab
The president of EcoHealth Alliance, which used taxpayer money to fund research at the Wuhan virus lab, will appear before Congress next month to defend his firm's work. Published April 4, 2024
DHS renews work permits for hundreds of thousands of migrants
Homeland Security granted a 540-day extension on work permits to as many as 800,000 immigrants, many of whom arrived illegally, saying the economy is depending on them. Published April 4, 2024
Biden moves to block Trump, future presidents from firing bureaucrats
President Biden finalized new civil service protections on Thursday aimed at preventing the sort of bureaucratic housecleaning that former President Donald Trump plans, should he win reelection. Published April 4, 2024
MS-13 illegal immigrant gang members kill police dog in vicious prison attack
A police dog was killed by illegal immigrant MS-13 gang members who stabbed and kicked the K-9 as he was trying to restore order amid a gang beating at a Virginia prison, according to authorities. Published April 3, 2024
‘Cross-dressing’ conservatives: Study blasts House conservatives for nearly $1 billion in earmarks
Conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus requested nearly $1 billion in pork-barrel "earmark" spending over the last two years, according to an analysis Wednesday that labeled the 22 earmarkers as "cross-dressing" conservatives. Published April 3, 2024
Texas defends border law before appeals court
Texas was back before a panel of federal judges Wednesday to defend its on-again-off-again border law, telling the court the state has marched right up to the line of what's legal in dealing with illegal immigrants but has not crossed over it. Published April 3, 2024
DHS bungles 200,000 immigration court cases, drawing congressional probe
The House Judiciary Committee announced a probe Wednesday into massive bungling by Homeland Security, which failed to file summonses with the immigration courts for hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants, causing some 200,000 cases to be dismissed. Published April 3, 2024
Schumer vows revenge on federal judges over court-shopping allegations
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer said he will strike back with legislation after a court in Texas said it won't agree to his demand to change how it assigns cases -- a seemingly technical issue, but with significant implications for how some major cases are decided. Published April 2, 2024
Republicans warn IRS to stop retaliating against whistleblowers who revealed Hunter Biden tax crimes
Three House committee chairs issued a warning Tuesday to the Biden administration not to investigate or retaliate against the two IRS special agents who blew the whistle on Hunter Biden's tax problems, helping derail what had been a sweetheart plea deal. Published April 2, 2024
Biden adds ‘another gender’ checkbox to citizenship application
The government introduced a citizenship form Monday that allows immigrants to select X as their gender, giving them a new option beyond male and female. Published April 1, 2024
Feds say child pornographer exploited immigration system to smuggle in his victim
Federal prosecutors announced charges Monday against a man they say smuggled in an illegal immigrant child and then produced child pornography with the minor, a case that implicates President Biden's more relaxed approach to illegal immigrant children. Published April 1, 2024
Judge nixes lawsuit against Ron DeSantis over migrant flights to Martha’s Vineyard
A federal judge on Monday tossed part of a lawsuit accusing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis of malfeasance when he flew migrants to Martha's Vineyard in 2022. Published April 1, 2024
Homeland Security now required to reveal details of border chaos under new law
The Department of Homeland Security is being forced to become a lot more transparent about what's going on at the border. Published March 31, 2024
Food fight: Senators pressure feds not to demote potatoes from the ranks of vegetables
A bipartisan group of senators delivered a stern warning to Uncle Sam this week: Keep your paws off our french fries. Published March 28, 2024
New estimate says U.S. now has 13.7 million illegal immigrants, up 37% under Biden
President Biden's wave of new illegal immigrants is upending the usual demographics of immigration and sending the education levels plummeting, according to a new report Thursday that raised big questions about the country's ability to absorb the newcomers. Published March 28, 2024
Lawmakers demand answers after federal workers hold in-person rally to protest in-person work
Normally, Republicans would celebrate the fact that federal workers showed up at their office. But the employees who came to the Labor Department's Boston office last week weren't there to work -- they were there, in person, to protest having to show up for in-person work. Published March 27, 2024
Appeals court rejects border ‘invasion’ claims, issues new block on Texas’ strict immigration law
A federal appeals court renewed an injunction Wednesday blocking Texas' tough new immigration law, delivering a significant victory to immigrant-rights advocates and President Biden. Published March 27, 2024
