Department of Homeland Security

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks against the U.S. on September 11, 2001, President Bush formed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to act as a supervisory umbrella organization for many federal agencies, including the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).  As of March 1, 2003, DHS took over all functions of INS.

DHS includes three primary Bureaus with immigration functions:  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). CBP and ICE are under one of the five main divisions of DHS, the Border and Transportation Security Directorate.

U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES (USCIS)

USCIS (also known as CIS) provides immigration services such as processing applications for U.S. citizenship and other immigration benefits, adjudicating work authorizations and other permits, and adjudicating claims for asylum and refugee status.

In February 2003, USCIS confirmed that there would be no immediate changes to application forms or instructions.   Applications are received and processed in the same manner as they were by INS.  Existing INS forms and documents are still valid, and USCIS continues to use the same locations and offices that were part of INS until further notice.

U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION (CBP)

CBP is responsible for maintaining the security of U.S. boundaries and overseeing the movement of goods and people across our borders.  CBP is responsible for adjudicating applications made at the border upon entry and for inspecting and admitting all visitors to the U.S.  CBP employees were previously inspectors in the Agricultural Quarantine Inspection program and the U.S. Customs Service, as well as former INS inspectors and U.S. Customs agents.

U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE)

ICE is responsible for interior enforcement of U.S. immigration and customs laws, intelligence and investigations, detention and removal, and protecting certain federal buildings.  ICE brings together the enforcement and investigation divisions of the former U.S. Customs Service, legacy INS, and Federal Protective Services.

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