Legal Definitions - Immigration and Naturalization Service

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was a federal agency of the U.S. Department of Justice that existed until 2003. Its primary responsibilities included administering U.S. immigration laws, processing applications for immigration benefits like visas and naturalization, and enforcing border security through the U.S. Border Patrol. Following the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the functions of the INS were reorganized and transferred to several new agencies, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

• Example 1: In 1998, a family from Canada wishing to apply for permanent residency in the United States would have submitted their application forms and attended interviews at a local office managed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

  Explanation: This illustrates the INS's administrative role in processing immigration benefits and managing the legal pathway for foreign nationals seeking to live permanently in the U.S. before its functions were transferred to USCIS.

• Example 2: Before 2003, if an individual was apprehended attempting to cross the U.S. border without authorization, they would have been detained and processed by agents of the U.S. Border Patrol, which at that time operated directly under the authority of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

  Explanation: This demonstrates the INS's responsibility for border enforcement and security, a function now primarily carried out by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

• Example 3: In 2001, a foreign student whose visa had expired and who was facing deportation proceedings would have had their case heard and decided by an immigration judge within the system overseen by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

  Explanation: This highlights the INS's role in enforcing immigration laws, including the apprehension, detention, and removal of individuals found to be in violation of those laws, a responsibility now largely handled by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).