This, from the moment the Department Of Homeland Security was created, was always what the agency would evolve into.
this post was submitted on 26 Mar 2025
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I found this article on the transformation of the DHS into a secret-police-like-organization from 2020 in the sources/references and thought it was worth sharing
https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/the-dhs-was-destined-to-become-a-secret-police-force
Interesting that the Ukranian Security service is listed here, even though it went through major reforms after Euromaiden. (Before Euromaiden it was definitely a secret police to arrest anyone who was pro-west and anti-russia).
I wouldn’t say it’s any more of a “secret police” in the current day than, something like the FBI. Like sure, they arrest a limited number of pro-Russia secessionists, but the Spanish Guardia Civil do the same to pro-Catalonia seperatists and they aren’t listed here. Plus Ukraine is literally at war with Russia.
Waging a guess, it’s likely because of the wartime powers that suspended some individual rights, combined with the corruption purges and arrests of Russophile orthodox priests and party leaders that happened earlier in the war.
Justified as it may be to remove fifth columnists/foreign agents and puppets during total war, it’s still subverting the norms of a free society.
The sources justifying it are from before the Russian invasion.
And they are not really enough evidence. It’s basically bits and pieces that don’t really say enough plus one reuters quote that is probably influenced from pre-euromaiden.
I mean, a secret police that does good things can still technically be a secret police.
This is part of the wikipedia definition of secret police. AFAIK that’s not the case of Ukraine here.
They protect the political power of a dictator or regime and often operate outside the law to repress dissidents and weaken political opposition, frequently using violence.
Like the Secret Santa version of police. They quietly go about their business undoing injustice and helping vulnerable people.
Its kind of funny that almost every country on the list is one I would never set a foot in
The names of those institutions would give you an all-time high score in a game of oppressive regime buzzword bingo. Whenever I hear someone say 'national security' I get the urge to hit myself over the head with a 2 by 4.
If "national security" can let a government kidnap people, then I can claim "personal security" and kidnap people, maybe on a smaller scale, like children.
/s please don't kidnap children
I don't think I have adult capability but children are an achievable goal.