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![Ariana Figueroa](png/ariana-figueroa-300x300.png)
Ariana covers the nation's capital for States Newsroom. Her areas of coverage include politics and policy, lobbying, elections and campaign finance.
Nevada Current is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
Bleak future for immigration action after U.S. Senate GOP abandons border security deal
By: Jennifer Shutt and Ariana Figueroa - February 6, 2024
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans on Tuesday walked away from the bipartisan border security and immigration deal clinched after months of painstaking negotiations, siding with their House colleagues and presidential front-runner Donald Trump. The decision to block the bill released just two days ago not only leaves laws in place that GOP lawmakers say have […]
Intense opposition to U.S. Senate immigration deal quickly emerges
By: Ariana Figueroa - February 5, 2024
WASHINGTON — The proposed global security funding legislation that includes major bipartisan updates to immigration policy encountered opposition from members of both parties Monday, especially Republicans upset by the Biden administration’s handling of border security, charting a tumultuous path for passage in the Senate this week. The deal on immigration policy, negotiated for months by […]
Details of proposed major overhaul of U.S. immigration law, global aid package unveiled
By: Ariana Figueroa - February 4, 2024
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday night released a $118.28 billion global security package that includes a long-anticipated overhaul of immigration law negotiated by a bipartisan trio of senators. “The United States and our allies are facing multiple, complex and, in places, coordinated challenges from adversaries who seek to disrupt democracy […]
Votes on major bipartisan immigration deal in Congress said to be nearing
By: Ariana Figueroa - February 1, 2024
WASHINGTON — A U.S. Senate vote is expected next week on a bipartisan deal that would overhaul U.S. immigration law and provide more than $100 billion for a global security package. The long-awaited bill text on the supplemental package to aid Ukraine, Israel, the Indo-Pacific region and U.S. border security could be made public as […]
U.S. House committee advances impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas to floor
By: Ariana Figueroa - January 31, 2024
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security early Wednesday voted 18-15 along party lines to send articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the House floor. Republicans argue the charges are legitimate. Members of the full House could vote as soon as next week to impeach Mayorkas, who is […]
U.S. Senate Republicans insist they won’t bow to Trump demands to quit immigration talks
By: Ariana Figueroa - January 25, 2024
WASHINGTON — Top U.S. Senate negotiators said Thursday that final details on an immigration policy deal remain under debate in the U.S. Senate, despite outside pressure from GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump to sink any agreement as he makes immigration his central campaign message. The No. 2 Senate Republican and GOP whip, Sen. John Thune, […]
Democratic governors ask Congress for immigration aid to reverse years of ‘inaction’
By: Ariana Figueroa - January 23, 2024
WASHINGTON — Nine Democratic governors sent a letter to President Joe Biden and congressional leaders Monday, requesting federal aid and urging changes to immigration law as their states take in an overwhelming number of asylum seekers. “The sustained arrival of individuals seeking asylum and requiring shelter and assistance, due to lack of Congressional action on […]
With GOP pushing hard on immigration, parole emerges as a make-or-break issue in Congress
By: Ariana Figueroa - January 18, 2024
WASHINGTON — Passage of a multi-billion-dollar supplemental package hinges on curbing an executive authority used to grant immigration protection, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said during a Wednesday press conference. “If we don’t fix parole, there will be no deal,” Graham said alongside Senate Republican Whip John Thune of South Dakota. Graham said parole is […]
Biden announces plan to cancel some student loan balances under $12,000
By: Ariana Figueroa - January 12, 2024
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced Friday that some federal student loan borrowers will have their loans cancelled under the Department of Education’s new repayment plan. Starting next month, people who took out under $12,000 in federal student loans and have been repaying those loans for 10 years will get their remaining student loan balance […]
Fight for congressional majorities launches against backdrop of presidential campaigns
By: Ariana Figueroa and Jennifer Shutt - January 5, 2024
WASHINGTON — The 2024 battle for control of Congress is underway in the states, accompanying the accelerating race for the presidency. Republicans are preparing to funnel money and staff into a select few Senate races in an effort to flip that chamber back to their control, while Democrats are looking toward the districts President Joe […]
Biden to speak at South Carolina church where Black worshippers were murdered
By: Ariana Figueroa - January 3, 2024
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden as his 2024 campaign gets underway will visit a historic church in South Carolina where Black churchgoers were murdered by a white supremacist in 2015, to give a speech about the dangers of political violence and to make the case for his reelection this November. “The choice for the American […]
Biden: Trump ‘certainly supported an insurrection’ on Jan. 6
By: Ariana Figueroa - December 20, 2023
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden Wednesday said that there was “no question” former president Donald Trump was responsible for supporting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol more than two years ago. Biden’s comments followed Tuesday’s ruling by Colorado’s Supreme Court that ordered Trump barred from appearing on the state’s 2024 presidential ballot, on the grounds of […]