Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Bondi accuses Judge Boasberg of anti-Trump bias, demands court investigation
The administration widened its battle against federal judges this week, filing a formal misconduct complaint against Judge James Boasberg over comments he made accusing President Trump of creating a "constitutional crisis" by ignoring court rulings. Published July 29, 2025
Judges question Stephen Miller’s target of 3,000 immigration arrests a day
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller's call for Homeland Security to arrest 3,000 unauthorized immigrants a day took center stage at a federal appeals court Monday, where the judges speculated that his demand may have pressured agents to launch an unconstitutional dragnet for migrants in the Los Angeles area. Published July 28, 2025
Trump sets new record for criminal prosecutions of illegal immigrants
Illegal immigration to the U.S. has long been treated mostly as a civil affair rather than a criminal matter, with the consequence being deportation rather than conviction and jail time. Published July 28, 2025
DHS struggles to locate migrant kids that went ‘missing’ under Biden
Homeland Security located less than 25% of the illegal immigrant children it tried to find when it visited the adults who were supposed to be taking care of them, the department's inspector general told Congress last week, underscoring the deep hole the Biden administration left. Published July 27, 2025
Trump loses lawsuit challenging Illinois’ sanctuary law
Sanctuary jurisdictions won a round in the legal battle against President Trump on Friday when a federal judge shut down his lawsuit against Illinois, Chicago and Cook County, saying the 10th Amendment protects their right to refuse to assist federal immigration arrests. Published July 25, 2025
Feds charge clinic staff with blocking arrest of migrant
Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles announced criminal charges Friday against two staffers at a California clinic who were captured on video helping an illegal immigrant escape from ICE custody. Published July 25, 2025
AOC’s ‘Tax the Rich’ Met Gala dress broke ethics rules
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received a gentle reprimand from the House Ethics Committee, which ruled she broke congressional rules with her 2021 appearance at the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York -- and the attention-grabbing "Tax the Rich" dress she wore. Published July 25, 2025
Feds bring gun-related charges against illegal immigrants accused in shooting of border officer
Federal prosecutors have announced gun and accessory charges against two illegal immigrants accused of being part of shooting an off-duty border officer in the face during a botched robbery in New York last week. Published July 25, 2025
DOJ sues Mayor Eric Adams over NYC sanctuary policy
The Justice Department opened a new front in its legal war on sanctuary jurisdictions Thursday, filing a lawsuit seeking to shut down New York City's policies that protect illegal immigrants from the reach of federal deportation authorities. Published July 24, 2025
Appeals court challenges Supreme Court’s ruling on universal injunctions
Less than a month after the Supreme Court told federal judges to restrain themselves from issuing nationwide injunctions, a federal appeals court ruled that those injunctions can be legal if states are the plaintiffs. Published July 24, 2025
Senate Republicans advance nomination of Trump’s personal defense lawyer for appeals court post
Senate Republicans surmounted a Democrat-led filibuster attempt Thursday to advance the nomination of Emil Bove, President Trump's personal defense lawyer and deeply controversial pick for a federal appeals court judgeship. Published July 24, 2025
Appeals Court rules Trump’s birthright citizenship order violates Constitution
President Trump's attempt to block the U.S. from recognizing birthright citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants runs afoul of the Constitution, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday, becoming the highest court to reach that conclusion. Published July 23, 2025
Supreme Court backs Trump’s ability to fire independent agency leaders as legal battles take shape
The Supreme Court expressed displeasure Wednesday with lower court judges who continue to block President Trump's firing of agency heads, saying it has made clear the president can carry out firings while the legal battles develop. Published July 23, 2025
Judge forbids Homeland Security from trying to immediately deport Abrego Garcia
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was a "Maryland man" before he was arrested and deported in March, and a federal judge on Wednesday ordered that he must become a Maryland man again once he is released from pre-trial detention. Published July 23, 2025
Trump opens new front in battle with Harvard over exchange students
The State Department said Wednesday it has opened an investigation into Harvard University's eligibility to host foreign exchange visitors, marking a new front in the Trump administration's war with the country's oldest college. Published July 23, 2025
Legislation would allow national parks to raise entry fees for foreign visitors
Go deep enough into the trails at some of America's national parks and you'll notice the other patrons there with you are, as often as not, speaking a foreign language. Published July 23, 2025
Trump slashes 25% of IRS workforce with buyouts, firings of nearly 26,000 agency staff
Through buyouts and firings, the administration has already slashed the IRS's workforce by nearly 26,000 people, marking a 25% reduction in staffing as President Trump works to erase President Biden's buildup at the tax agency. Published July 22, 2025
Appeals court blocks ruling that Trump illegally fired FTC commissioners
A federal appeals court issued a temporary block Tuesday on a lower decision that found President Trump illegally fired two members of the Federal Trade Commission. Published July 22, 2025
Appeals court sides with ICE, blocking New Jersey’s sanctuary law banning migrant detention
States cannot actively try to thwart federal immigration enforcement, an appeals court ruled Tuesday, blocking a New Jersey law that sought to ban ICE from contracting with facilities to detain migrants within its boundaries. Published July 22, 2025
Judge forces Miami to hold regularly scheduled election
A Florida judge has ordered the City of Miami to hold its regular elections later this year, as called for under the city charter, overruling commissioners who had attempted to delay the vote and to extend some of their own terms -- as well as the mayor -- for an extra year. Published July 22, 2025
