Stephen Dinan

Federal deficit hit $1.7 trillion in fiscal year 2023

Uncle Sam ran a deficit of nearly $1.7 trillion in the just-concluded fiscal year, the Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday, pointing to higher spending and lower revenue as the culprits for an increasingly grim fiscal picture.

October 10, 2023

Feds bust illegal immigrant in gun-buying conspiracy

A high school teacher left his dog in a hot car for an hour and a half while he made illegal straw purchases of guns, which he turned over to an illegal immigrant who then spread them around, including two weapons that were later used in shootings.

October 10, 2023

DHS deported less than 1% of catch-and-release migrants since start of Biden administration

Homeland Security has caught and released more than 2.1 million illegal immigrants at the southern border since the start of the Biden administration.

October 9, 2023

Hamas attack puts new attention on terrorism at U.S. border

Hamas' sneak attack into Israel across a heavily fortified border has focused new attention on American borders, where Republicans say the next 9/11-style attackers may be planning to enter -- or already have.

October 9, 2023

Why Biden admin is targeting migrants from one South American country for rapid deportation

The Biden administration is restarting deportations of illegal immigrants to Venezuela, officials said Thursday, vowing "harsh" consequences for those who try to jump the border moving forward.

October 5, 2023

5th Circuit Court breaks more new ground for justices; floating wall, censoring on docket

Most Americans know about the Supreme Court, and many are aware of the circuit court of appeals in Washington, often labeled the second highest court in the land. But outside of lawyers, journalists and the odd legal aficionado, few are familiar with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

October 5, 2023

Justice Department urges federal court to tear down Texas’ floating border wall

The Biden administration appeared before a federal appeals court Thursday to ask the judges to rule against Texas' floating border wall, saying it's illegal under the terms of a 19th-century law governing navigable rivers.

October 5, 2023

‘I can’t stop that’: Hamstrung Biden says he’s required by law to build border wall

President Biden on Thursday said he has no choice but to build a new border wall, saying his hands are tied by laws Congress passed ordering that billions of dollars be spent on constructing the barrier.

October 5, 2023

No mas: Biden admin. admits ‘immediate’ need for Texas border wall amid massive migrant surge

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Wednesday that the U.S. has an "acute and immediate need" to build border wall in southern Texas, and he issued an order waiving some of the country's most iconic environmental protection laws to speed up construction.

October 4, 2023

‘A state of war exists in Texas’: Abbott’s floating border wall case tests migrant invasion theory

Texas takes its border showdown with President Biden to a panel of judges on Thursday, arguing that the illegal immigrants streaming into the U.S. constitutes an invasion that the state has a right to repel -- including by deploying its own floating wall in the Rio Grande.

October 4, 2023

Biden targets Chinese suppliers in new front against fentanyl

The Biden administration pinned blame for the fentanyl crisis on Chinese operatives and moved Tuesday to try to punish them, bringing a series of federal charges and slapping banking restrictions on companies and individuals the government says are responsible for poisoning tens of thousands of Americans.

October 3, 2023

Supreme Court grapples with constitutionality of Elizabeth Warren’s consumer watchdog agency

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Sen. Elizabeth Warren's brainchild, fought for its life Tuesday at the Supreme Court, arguing there's nothing unusual about Congress giving the Wall Street regulatory agency the power to set its own budget without having to ask lawmakers for money each year.

October 3, 2023

Trump campaign demands RNC cancel all future presidential debates

Former President Donald Trump's campaign demanded Monday that the Republican National Committee cancel all the remaining presidential debates, saying the party is wasting money and attention that should instead be focused on attacking Democrats.

October 2, 2023

Immigrants strain communities nationwide; cross-section shows destinations, parole violations

New York may be complaining the loudest about the influx of illegal immigrants, but government data shows the migrants from the Biden border surge are reaching every corner of the country and straining communities' ability to accommodate them.

October 2, 2023

Supreme Court returns to the bench, bats away 800 appeals, including challenge to Trump’s reelection

The Supreme Court batted away an appeal Monday from a man trying to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot and shot down a request from a Trump lawyer who wanted to erase a lower-court ruling that he had probably engaged in illegal activity surrounding his advice after the 2020 election.

October 2, 2023

Justice Sotomayor’s lack of ‘respect’: Justices stew as high court opens new term

Justice Sonia Sotomayor seems to have lost respect for her colleagues on the Supreme Court -- literally.

October 1, 2023

Feds charge IRS contractor with leaking wealthy taxpayers’ information

Federal prosecutors announced charges Friday against Charles Littlejohn, an IRS contractor they accused of leaking the secret tax information of a major government official and thousands of wealthy Americans to the news media.

September 29, 2023

Biden to allow in up to 125,000 refugees in 2024

President Biden said he will allow in up to 125,000 refugees in fiscal year 2024, including up to 50,000 from Latin America and the Caribbean.

September 29, 2023

House gives subpoena ultimatum to Mayorkas, demands data on terrorism suspects jumping the border

Three House committee chairmen delivered a final warning Friday to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, telling him to turn over details about terrorism suspects who've sneaked across the southern border or else they'll seek to issue a subpoena to force him to comply.

September 29, 2023

House subpoenas bank records for Hunter Biden, James Biden

House Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer announced subpoenas Thursday for the personal and business bank records of Hunter Biden and James Biden, taking the first concrete steps in public to advance the impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

September 28, 2023