Immigration and Naturalization Service facts for kids
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was a government group. It was part of the U.S. Department of Justice from 1933 to 2003. The INS stopped being called that on March 1, 2003.
Most of its jobs were given to three new groups. These were the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). All these groups became part of the new Department of Homeland Security. This was a big change in government after the September 11 attacks of 2001.
How the INS Started and Changed
Before 1890, individual states managed who could come into the United States. But in 1890, the federal government took over. It started to control who could immigrate.
The Immigration Act of 1891 created a Commissioner of Immigration. This person worked for the Treasury Department. Over time, immigration duties moved to different government departments. It went to the United States Department of Commerce and Labor after 1903. Then it moved to the Department of Labor after 1913.
In 1940, there was more worry about national safety. So, immigration and naturalization (becoming a citizen) moved again. It became part of the Department of Justice.
In 2003, the way immigration services were managed changed again. These jobs became the responsibility of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS). This group existed for a short time. Then it changed to its current name, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
See also
In Spanish: Servicio de Inmigración y Naturalización para niños
