Author

Ariana Figueroa

Ariana Figueroa

Ariana covers the nation's capital for States Newsroom. Her areas of coverage include politics and policy, lobbying, elections and campaign finance.

President Joe Biden signs an executive order at the 2023 White House Tribal Nations Summit at the U.S. Department of Interior on Dec. 6, 2023 in Washington, D.C. President (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Biden meets with leaders of tribal nations, signs order easing access to federal funds

By: - December 7, 2023

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday that would make it easier for tribal nations to access and invest federal funding on their own terms. “It’s hard work to heal the wrongs of the past and change the course and move forward,” Biden said. “But the actions we are taking today are […]

U.S. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., speaks to members of the press at the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 4, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Lankford is the lead Republican negotiator in border talks. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Border talks stuck as Senate nears vote on package for Israel, Ukraine aid

By: - December 6, 2023

WASHINGTON — The success of the U.S. Senate in passing a $106 billion global security supplemental aid package hinges on a bipartisan agreement about U.S. border security, but any deal was at an impasse Tuesday. “There will not be a national security bill unless and until there is serious and significant changes in security at […]

A Texas National Guardsman observes as Border Patrol agents pat down migrants who have surrendered themselves for processing at Gate 42, some after waiting near the border wall for days, May 10, 2023. Congress is currently debating a new border security package. (Photo by Corrie Boudreaux for Source NM)

Congress is haggling over border security: Where does it stand?

By: - December 4, 2023

WASHINGTON — As Congress negotiates the White House’s $106 billion supplemental aid request for Israel, Ukraine and U.S. border security, fights over immigration policy have tied up the request. The White House sent its proposal that includes nearly $14 billion in supplemental border security funding to Congress in late October, but it will likely look […]

The U.S. House voted on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, to pass a measure that would end the use of public lands for temporary migrant shelters, but it’s unlikely to pass the Senate. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

U.S. House votes to bar use of public lands for housing migrants

By: - December 1, 2023

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Thursday passed a bill to bar the use of public lands for temporary housing for migrants applying for asylum. The bill, H.R. 5283, passed with a majority of Republicans in support, 224-203.  Six Democrats voted with Republicans: Reps. Henry Cuellar of Texas, Don Davis of North Carolina, Jared Golden of […]

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, led a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. (Screenshot from U.S. Senate webcast)

Gun violence as a public health crisis explored by U.S. Senate Democrats

By: - November 29, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats on Tuesday discussed how to treat gun violence as a public health crisis, in hopes of building upon last year’s federal gun safety legislation. “Across the country, gun violence is a public health epidemic,” Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin, the chairman of the committee, said in his opening remarks. […]

An immigrant family wades through the Rio Grande while crossing from Mexico into the United States on Sept. 30, 2023 in Eagle Pass, Texas. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Trump immigration policies set the tone for most of the GOP presidential field

By: - November 27, 2023

This is one of an occasional series comparing the Republican presidential candidates’ positions on issues. WASHINGTON — Most of the candidates in this year’s 2024 Republican race for the presidential nomination mirror hard-line immigration policies set by the front-runner, former President Donald Trump. What were once considered far-right policies are now common talking points among […]

Student debt protesters

Attempt to kill Biden student debt relief plan tied to income fails in U.S. Senate

By: - November 16, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans on Wednesday night failed to garner enough votes to block a new Biden administration rule on an income-driven repayment plan for federal student loans. The resolution did not pass, 49-50. Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia was the sole Democrat who joined Republicans in backing the resolution. Sen. Tim […]

Second from left, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., leads a roundtable discussion on issues of gun violence, in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill Nov. 13, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Democrats from the House Oversight Committee organized the event. Also pictured, L-R, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., Mariah Cooley, board member of March for Our Lives, Joseph Blocher, professor of law at the Duke University School of Law, in Durham, N.C., and James Timpson, managing director of community violence initiatives at Roca Inc. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

‘Nationwide gun emergency’ discussed by U.S. House Democrats at roundtable meeting

By: - November 14, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democrats held a Monday roundtable forum on changing U.S. gun laws following a recent mass shooting in Maine, where 18 people were killed.  The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, invited witnesses to discuss gun violence solutions, and said that the gun industry lobby, the National Rifle […]

Tony Hillaire of the Lummi Nation tells senators on the U.S. Indian Affairs Committee that impacts of the fentanyl crisis on his community are devastating. (U.S. House committee webcast)

Tribal leaders ask Congress for help with fentanyl crisis in Native American communities

By: - November 9, 2023

WASHINGTON — Leaders of Native American tribes detailed the fentanyl crisis in Indigenous communities during a Wednesday U.S. Senate hearing. “This growing crisis is rooted in the longstanding structural inequities in Native communities,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, Democrat of Hawaii, who chairs the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Alaska GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she […]

The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. (Jim Small | Arizona Mirror)

U.S. Supreme Court considers case dealing with gun rights and domestic violence

By: - November 8, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. Supreme Court justices during Tuesday’s oral arguments seemed to lean toward upholding a federal law that prevents the possession of firearms by a person who is subject to a domestic violence protective order. Liberal and conservative justices appeared to side with the Biden administration’s position that the 1994 federal law is in […]

U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., left, shakes hands with Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., as the House of Representatives holds an election for a new speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 25, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Mike Johnson of Louisiana elected speaker of the U.S. House after three weeks of stalemate

By: and - October 25, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans on Wednesday voted for Louisiana’s Mike Johnson as speaker in a chamber that has been frozen for more than three weeks after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted. In a 220-209 party-line vote, all Republicans present backed Johnson. Wisconsin Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden did not vote as he was […]

U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., leaves a House Republican conference meeting in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill on Oct. 24, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Mike Johnson of Louisiana picked as newest GOP nominee for U.S. House speaker

By: and - October 24, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans late Tuesday voted to tap Louisiana’s Mike Johnson as speaker after the GOP nominee from earlier in the day was tanked. Johnson, 51, is the fourth Republican nominee attempting to break the deadlock in the lower chamber that has been leaderless and frozen for three weeks. He is the second […]