what is a ins
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was the Department of Justice agency which, prior to 2003, handled legal and illegal immigration and naturalization. The INS was abolished in 2003 and its functions placed under three agencies â the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).