44 definitions by primus intra pares
(1) Citizenship and Immigration Services; the successor to the investigations and processing arm of the former Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) of the USA. In 2003, the INS was dissolved and its enforcement arm transferred to the new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The INS had formerly been part of the Justice Department; the CIS is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
(2) Center for Immigration Studies, a thinktank founded by John Tanton as a project of FAIR. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) lists the CIS as a racist nativist organization with extensive connections with other rightwing organizations.
(2) Center for Immigration Studies, a thinktank founded by John Tanton as a project of FAIR. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) lists the CIS as a racist nativist organization with extensive connections with other rightwing organizations.
(DEF1) She spent the better part of a week struggling through the CIS website, trying to imagine how anyone could get a work permit without violating the laws of physics.
(DEF2) Some at CIS have also written for a nativist hate site, VDARE.com, which is named after Virginia Dare, said to be the first English child born in the New World. They include CIS Fellow John Miano and board member Carol Iannone.
(Heidi Beirich, "CIS: The 'Independent' Think Tank," Feb 2009)
(DEF2) Some at CIS have also written for a nativist hate site, VDARE.com, which is named after Virginia Dare, said to be the first English child born in the New World. They include CIS Fellow John Miano and board member Carol Iannone.
(Heidi Beirich, "CIS: The 'Independent' Think Tank," Feb 2009)
by primus intra pares June 16, 2010
(UK GOVERNMENT) also spelled MI6; the Secret Intelligence Service. Under the control of the Home Secretary, along with MI-5 and General Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).
There is no simple division of labor between the two agencies; MI-5 usually is involved with domestic operations, and MI-6 is usually involved in overseas operations, but the real distinction is that one houses one group of agencies, and the other houses another. Like MI-5, the SIS/MI-6 was founded in 1909 as a joint operation between the Admiralty and the War Office.
During the Cold War, the agency was badly compromised by pro-Soviet staff (the "Cambridge Spy Ring"). It later recovered from Soviet penetration and recruited Col. Oleg Penkovsky.
There is no simple division of labor between the two agencies; MI-5 usually is involved with domestic operations, and MI-6 is usually involved in overseas operations, but the real distinction is that one houses one group of agencies, and the other houses another. Like MI-5, the SIS/MI-6 was founded in 1909 as a joint operation between the Admiralty and the War Office.
During the Cold War, the agency was badly compromised by pro-Soviet staff (the "Cambridge Spy Ring"). It later recovered from Soviet penetration and recruited Col. Oleg Penkovsky.
MI-6 was involved in several notorious schemes, such as Operation Ajax (Iran) and the ouster of Patrice Lumumba (Congo) and Jeddi Kagan (Guyana).
by primus intra pares July 18, 2010
(US GOVERNMENT) a person who may be deported for any reason. Removable aliens include
*people who entered the USA unlawfully, such as crossing the border without documents;
*people who entered the USA lawfully but overstayed their visas, or else did something that violated the terms of their visa (usually, working for a living);
*people who are lawful resident immigrants, but who committed a felony (US law classifies many petty crimes as a felony, including giving incorrect information on a federal job application);
*people who are lawful residents and who have scrupulously obeyed other US laws, but who have suffered the misfortune of contracting a dangerous illness (including while in the USA);
*people who are lawful refugees and legally entitled to sanctuary, but whose presence under US protection is diplomatically embarrassing.
The term "removable alien" seems to have been coined in a 2005 addendum to the federal code (Title 8, CFR 241.14), which is where this information comes from.
*people who entered the USA unlawfully, such as crossing the border without documents;
*people who entered the USA lawfully but overstayed their visas, or else did something that violated the terms of their visa (usually, working for a living);
*people who are lawful resident immigrants, but who committed a felony (US law classifies many petty crimes as a felony, including giving incorrect information on a federal job application);
*people who are lawful residents and who have scrupulously obeyed other US laws, but who have suffered the misfortune of contracting a dangerous illness (including while in the USA);
*people who are lawful refugees and legally entitled to sanctuary, but whose presence under US protection is diplomatically embarrassing.
The term "removable alien" seems to have been coined in a 2005 addendum to the federal code (Title 8, CFR 241.14), which is where this information comes from.
The Service shall continue to detain a removable alien where the Attorney General or Deputy Attorney General has certified in writing that:
(i) Without regard to the grounds upon which the alien has been found inadmissible or removable, the alien is a person described in section 212(a)(3)(C) or section 237(a)(4)(C) of the Act;
(ii) The alien's release is likely to have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States
(Title 8, CFR 241.14)
(i) Without regard to the grounds upon which the alien has been found inadmissible or removable, the alien is a person described in section 212(a)(3)(C) or section 237(a)(4)(C) of the Act;
(ii) The alien's release is likely to have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States
(Title 8, CFR 241.14)
by primus intra pares June 20, 2010
(UK GOVERNMENT) British intelligence agency. Under the Home Secretary (w/in the British Cabinet), along with MI-6 and Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).
A few points: MI-5 can be written MI5. It differs from MI-6 (or MI6) in that MI-5 houses one group of specialized functions, and MI-6 houses another group. Both were founded in 1909 to supervise existing agencies of the Admiralty and the War Office. MI-5 tended to specialize in counterespionage on UK soil, but it also carried out espionage against trade union officials and Labour politicians in the UK.
Since the end of the Cold War it has focused on counterterrorism activities.
A few points: MI-5 can be written MI5. It differs from MI-6 (or MI6) in that MI-5 houses one group of specialized functions, and MI-6 houses another group. Both were founded in 1909 to supervise existing agencies of the Admiralty and the War Office. MI-5 tended to specialize in counterespionage on UK soil, but it also carried out espionage against trade union officials and Labour politicians in the UK.
Since the end of the Cold War it has focused on counterterrorism activities.
Contrary to some definitions elsewhere, MI-5 was not involved in Operation Ajax; that was carried out by the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), also known as MI-6, as well as the US CIA.
by primus intra pares July 18, 2010
(US GOVERNMENT) Agency of the US Department of the Interior. The name has since been changed to "Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement" (BOEMRE). The laws related to minerals management in the United States are possibly the most poorly thought-out in the developed world, and were largely designed as a strategy to launder money through crooked politicians. The MMS was created manage the oceanic coastal shelf (OCS) resources, and naturally it became one of the most notorious dens of corruption seen in the entire world.
The MMS is set up so that the temptation to be sleazy is almost impossible to resist; indeed, taking bribes is practically standard operating procedure in this agency. That's because the MMS was responsible for enforcing environmental and safety regulations on things like offshore drilling platforms, and yet made its income from revenues from the lessors it was regulating.
MMS officials would actually let oil company staff fill out inspection checklists in pencil, so that MMS inspectors would then fill them out as the operators wanted.
The MMS is set up so that the temptation to be sleazy is almost impossible to resist; indeed, taking bribes is practically standard operating procedure in this agency. That's because the MMS was responsible for enforcing environmental and safety regulations on things like offshore drilling platforms, and yet made its income from revenues from the lessors it was regulating.
MMS officials would actually let oil company staff fill out inspection checklists in pencil, so that MMS inspectors would then fill them out as the operators wanted.
Given Minerals Management Service pencil whipping in the Gulf prospects*, it was a miracle that Transocean was ever cited for safety violations at all.
MMS is famous for parties in which executives of oil companies went drabbing with federal managers.
___________________________
*Here, a prospect is an area where oil prospecting occurs
MMS is famous for parties in which executives of oil companies went drabbing with federal managers.
___________________________
*Here, a prospect is an area where oil prospecting occurs
by primus intra pares July 24, 2010
(U.S. GOVERNMENT) successor to the investigations and processing arm of the former Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) of the USA. In 2003, the INS was dissolved and its enforcement arm transferred to the new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The INS had formerly been part of the Justice Department; the CIS is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The CIS is responsible for incarcerating hundreds of thousands of people each year, mostly for petty paperwork filing errors or traffic stops.
The CIS is responsible for incarcerating hundreds of thousands of people each year, mostly for petty paperwork filing errors or traffic stops.
She spent months struggling with the wretched, burned-out bureaucracy of the Citizenship and Immigration Services, wondering how anyone could enter the country legally without violating the laws of physics.
by primus intra pares September 4, 2010
(US GOVERNMENT) Department of Homeland Security; cabinet level position created by the Bush Administration in 2003. One of the most costly and poorly executed reorganizations in US history, it essentially blew hundreds of billions of dollars on unrelated and pointless government projects intended to reward members of congress who sided with the president.
The DHS budget's largest line items are:
*the Customs and Border Protection (CBP)-20%;
*the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-19%;
*the Coast Guard (USCG; formerly part of the Department of Transportation {DOT})-18%;
*the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)-12%;
*Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-10%;
*Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS)-5%.
(Percentages are of the FY 2011 DHS Budget--$57 billion
The DHS budget's largest line items are:
*the Customs and Border Protection (CBP)-20%;
*the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-19%;
*the Coast Guard (USCG; formerly part of the Department of Transportation {DOT})-18%;
*the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)-12%;
*Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-10%;
*Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS)-5%.
(Percentages are of the FY 2011 DHS Budget--$57 billion
The DHS was created to bring most federally-controlled law enforcement bodies into one single, union-free, whistle-blower-free, department. Riders to the Homeland Security Act cost taxpayers billions in useless programs.
by primus intra pares June 19, 2010