Immigration and Naturalization Service

Immigration and Naturalization Service. The Immigration and Naturalization Service was the primary federal agency responsible for administering and enforcing immigration law in the United States for most of the 20th century. Established by consolidating two predecessor bureaus, it operated under the authority of the United States Department of Justice and later the United States Department of Homeland Security. Its wide-ranging duties included processing applications for naturalization, inspecting arriving aliens at ports of entry like Ellis Island, and patrolling the nation's borders to prevent illegal entry.

History

The agency was created on June 10, 1933, following an executive order by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that merged the Bureau of Immigration and the Bureau of Naturalization. This consolidation aimed to streamline federal immigration functions that had been managed separately since the late 19th century under laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act. Throughout its history, the service was instrumental in implementing major legislative changes, including the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 and the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Key historical events it managed included the post-World War II refugee admissions and the Mariel boatlift from Cuba. For most of its existence, it was a component of the United States Department of Justice, with its commissioner reporting to the United States Attorney General.

Functions and responsibilities

The core mission involved adjudicating benefits and enforcing immigration statutes. Its inspectors and examiners processed applications for visas, green cards, and citizenship at service centers and local offices nationwide. At international airports such as John F. Kennedy International Airport and land border crossings like those in San Ysidro, California, officers from the United States Border Patrol worked to apprehend individuals entering without inspection. The service also operated detention facilities, managed deportation proceedings, and collaborated with agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation on national security matters. Furthermore, it was tasked with investigating document fraud and worksite violations, often coordinating with the Department of Labor.

Organizational structure

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the service was led by a commissioner appointed by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate. The agency was divided into several key operational divisions, including the United States Border Patrol, the Detention and Deportation program, and the Examinations branch. It maintained a network of regional offices, district offices in major cities like Los Angeles and New York City, and numerous field offices and border sectors. Key support functions were handled by units focusing on intelligence, legal counsel, and management. The service also managed the Legal Immigration Family Equity Act programs and operated application support centers across the country.

Legacy and transition to USCIS

The agency was officially abolished on March 1, 2003, as a direct result of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 passed in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Its functions were split among three new agencies within the newly created United States Department of Homeland Security. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services assumed its adjudication and benefits-processing roles, while enforcement duties were transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This reorganization aimed to separate service-oriented functions from enforcement operations, a structural change advocated by commissions like the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform.

Criticism and controversies

The service faced significant criticism throughout its history for lengthy processing backlogs, inconsistent application of policies, and inadequate detention conditions. High-profile incidents, such as the handling of asylum seekers from Haiti and the case of Elián González, drew intense public and media scrutiny. It was also criticized for its management of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 legalization program and for enforcement actions like Operation Wetback. Perceived failures in information sharing and border security prior to the September 11 attacks were heavily cited in the 9/11 Commission Report as justifications for its dissolution and the creation of the United States Department of Homeland Security.