About the INS
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, widely known as the INS, used to be an agency that fell under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice. Officially disbanded on March 1, 2003, what was formerly the INS now consists of various responsibilities transferred to several other government agencies.
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History
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The origin of the INS dates back to 1875, when the U.S. Supreme Court deemed immigration issues a federal responsibility in order to curb the independent legislation passed by various states.
Function
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During its early existence in the nineteenth century, INS employees were responsible for deciding which prospective immigrants to the United States would be allowed to enter the country and pursue becoming a legal citizen.
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Quotas
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World War I precipitated the establishment of official quotas to help limit the number of immigrants entering the United States, such as the federal law called the Immigration Act of 1924.
Features
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Before its dissolution, the INS enforced immigration policies via four divisions: Field Operations, Management, Policy and Planning, and Programs.
Disbanding
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The creation of the Department of Homeland Security in March 2003 shifted immigration duties to three agencies: the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). (See Resources below.)
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