Legal Definitions - Immigration and Naturalization Service

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was a government agency that was responsible for enforcing immigration laws and regulations in the United States. It was part of the U.S. Department of Justice and was in charge of administering the Immigration and Nationality Act, as well as operating the U.S. Border Patrol.

For example, if someone wanted to come to the United States to work or study, they would need to apply for a visa through the INS. The INS would review their application and determine if they met the requirements to enter the country legally. The INS was also responsible for deporting individuals who were in the country illegally or who had violated immigration laws.

In 2003, the INS was abolished and its functions were transferred to three new agencies: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).