Illegals are parallel organizations set up independently from the two main intelligence organizations (KGB & GRU), under their own separate station chief, or ''Rezident'', for the contingent purpose should a break in diplomatic relations occur, and all legal operatives with valid passports are expelled, a parallel espionage organization remains in place. Also, they still may be engaged in highly secret ongoing activities, and their absolute highest concern is to avoid detection. They are "[[Sleeper_agent#Sleeper_Agents_in_Espionage|sleeper cells]]", to use a term recently popularized by American news organizations. | Illegals are parallel organizations set up independently from the two main intelligence organizations (KGB & GRU), under their own separate station chief, or ''Rezident'', for the contingent purpose should a break in diplomatic relations occur, and all legal operatives with valid passports are expelled, a parallel espionage organization remains in place. Also, they still may be engaged in highly secret ongoing activities, and their absolute highest concern is to avoid detection. They are "[[Sleeper_agent#Sleeper_Agents_in_Espionage|sleeper cells]]", to use a term recently popularized by American news organizations. |