INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service)

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was a U.S. government agency responsible for overseeing lawful immigration, visa issuance, and naturalization processes. It managed border enforcement, immigration benefits, and refugee assistance. In 2003, its functions were integrated into the Department of Homeland Security, and the INS was abolished as a standalone agency, with its responsibilities divided among agencies like U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Essentially, the INS used to handle immigration-related matters, but now these tasks are managed by different DHS units.