[chomp]

I think you’re confused on the difference between these, and what an administrative warrant is in particular.

[rayiner]

Trying to draw a distinction between the secret FISA court and administrative warrants from DHS is shaving the baloney a little thin.

[Terr_]

Despite all its other warts, the FISA court is (A) an actual judicial-branch court (B) created by legislation and (C) the justices cannot be removed on direct Presidential whim.

In contrast, "administrative warrants" are more like an executive-branch manager writing a memo, where an unscrupulous President could get them removed in a day for not writing the "right" memos.