Immigration has been a very significant issue in the USA's domestic and foreign policy spheres. Henceforth the departmental functioning on immigration has also been crucial throughout. Earlier the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) [For details please see Immigration and Naturalization Service under Index 1: Immigration to the US] used to handle all affairs related to immigration. However that body was dissolved in 2003 with all its powers and functions transferred to three agencies under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which was set up in November 2002. The department, created from 22 existing federal agencies in response to the 9/11 attacks, was activated in January, 2004. The DHS works in the civilian sphere to protect the United States within and outside its borders.
Also besides the DHS, a brief overview of other departments (sub-ordinate to the DHS) regulating immigration to the US goes as follows:
1. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):
Earlier called the bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) , this body is a part of the DHS and is charged with tasks like processing visa petitions of immigrants, petitions for naturalization, and asylum and refugee applications.
2. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):
Working as largest investigative arm of the DHS, this entity is responsible for intercepting vulnerabilities in the nation's border, economic, transportation and infrastructure security.
3. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP):
Functioning as a bureau of the DHS, this department is charged with regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. trade laws.
