Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Child smuggler admits to using gummies to knock out kids at border
Federal prosecutors announced a guilty plea Monday for a woman who smuggled illegal immigrant children into the U.S. without their parents, and in at least one case used melatonin "gummies" to knock the kid out to sneak her in. Published September 23, 2024
IRS allowed contractors to keep access to tax files after jobs ended
The IRS repeatedly allowed contractors to keep their active access to the tax agency's systems and buildings after their projects ended, an inspector general reported Monday. Published September 23, 2024
Reported crime rate fell in 2023, FBI says
The rate of reported crimes dipped in 2023, the FBI said Monday, with a 3% drop in the number of violent crimes reported to police and a 2.4% drop in property crimes. Published September 23, 2024
Harris puts up First Amendment fight but loses first round in court
Kamala Harris as California attorney general went after donor lists of nonprofit groups, and the Supreme Court slapped her down. Published September 23, 2024
America’s allies and enemies pick Harris as world weighs in on U.S. election
The revelation that Iran tried to leak Trump campaign materials to the Biden campaign has left little doubt who the Islamic Republic wants to see win -- or, more to the point, lose -- America's looming presidential election. Published September 22, 2024
Older Americans emerge as top fraud targets as scammers go high-tech
Older Americans are at the spear tip of what experts describe as a "tsunami of fraud," most of it run by scammers operating abroad, often with the backing of organized crime syndicates and sometimes with the backing of adversarial nations. Published September 19, 2024
Migrant gang war: Border expert says Mexican Mafia ‘green-lighted’ killing of Tren de Aragua members
Worried by the growing power and recklessness of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, the Mexican Mafia has "green-lighted" killings of TdA members, according to a homeland security expert who tracks cartel behavior. Published September 18, 2024
Illegal immigrants in Texas struggle to get abortions, ACLU says
Immigrants who live illegally in southern Texas -- and even some legal residents -- are struggling to obtain abortions, the American Civil Liberties Union said in a new report Wednesday. Published September 18, 2024
Federal buildings deemed dangerous for child care; audit suggests closing, moving sites
The federal government is delaying basic security improvements to its buildings that house day care centers, according to an inspector general's audit, which found 80 of the 93 facilities still have "significant security vulnerabilities." Published September 17, 2024
Illegal immigration ticks down after Biden paused fraud-filled ‘parole’ program
Homeland Security on Monday reported its best border numbers since just after President Biden took office after being forced to limit a fraud-filled "parole" program that had been admitting as many as 30,000 people a month. Published September 16, 2024
Trump assassination attempt exposes Secret Service gaps, raises calls for more protection
A gunman wouldn't have been able to get so close if it were President Biden on the golf course this weekend instead of former President Donald Trump. A second assassination attempt against Mr. Trump is raising more questions about the resources allocated to security for the former president and current presidential candidate, with much of the focus on why the Secret Service hasn't done more. Published September 16, 2024
Cuban regime members go free in U.S. under Biden’s ‘parole’
The Biden administration has allowed relatives of Cuba's prime minister, senior political figures -- and even a former military colonel who helped to shoot down humanitarian airplanes -- to enter the U.S. under its special "parole" program, according to the Cuban-American community. Published September 16, 2024
Whistleblower: ‘Low-caliber agent’ led Trump security during rally assassination attempt
Sen. Josh Hawley released whistleblower allegations Monday that the lead agent in charge of the scene at the first assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in July was known to be a "low-caliber agent." Published September 16, 2024
State officials tout voter roll cleanups after 2020 election, clash over noncitizen voting
State election officials showed up on Capitol Hill last week to talk about preparations for November's vote, and suddenly a "top this" competition broke out. Published September 15, 2024
Minnesota deactivates 1,000 ineligible voters, including noncitizens
Minnesota elections officials said they kicked about 1,000 names off their active voter rolls this week after a challenge by the Republican National Committee. Published September 13, 2024
Feds arrest woman from violent pro-Hamas protest at Union Station
Federal authorities arrested a Maryland woman Friday and charged her with defacing a monument near the Capitol during the pro-Palestinian rally protesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress in July. Published September 13, 2024
Data backs up Trump on crime increase, violence up under Biden-Harris administration
Crime rates remained elevated last year under President Biden, according to Justice Department data released Thursday that challenges a prevailing media and White House narrative. Published September 12, 2024
Appeals court orders halt to first-ever U.S. betting market on American elections
Kalshi, a financial exchange platform, opened the first American-based betting market on U.S. elections Thursday after a federal judge rejected regulators' attempts to shut it down. Published September 12, 2024
DHS proposes another two-year delay in full Real ID compliance
The Department of Homeland Security said Thursday that it wants to start prodding people to use Real ID-compliant identification next year but will grant another two-year delay before fully mandating its use. Published September 12, 2024
DHS designates Electoral College vote count as special national security event
Homeland Security on Wednesday officially designated the Electoral College vote count and certification as a special national security event, putting the U.S. Secret Service in charge of security surrounding the process. Published September 11, 2024
