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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Immigration and Naturalization Service
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A quick definition of Immigration and Naturalization Service:
Immigration and Naturalization Service: The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was a government agency that helped people come to the United States and become citizens. They also made sure that people followed the rules for coming to the country. The INS was part of the Department of Justice and had a group called the Border Patrol that watched over the borders of the United States. Today, the INS is no longer around, but its work is done by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
A more thorough explanation:
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).