(US GOVERNMENT) Immigration and Naturalization Service: former agency of the US government responsible for the enforcement of immigration law, and the processing of visa/permit requests. The INS and its successor (see below) are justly famous for treating millions of hardworking, intelligent, and creative people with the most demeaning, barbaric sort of bureaucratic cruelty imaginable.
After the attacks of 11 September 2001, Congress passed a bill creating the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); the INS was split up into its enforcement functions (which became part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its processing functions (Citizenship and Immigration Services, or CIS).
Prior to its dissolution in 2003, the INS was part of the Department of Justice. The CIS and ICE are both part of the DHS.
After the attacks of 11 September 2001, Congress passed a bill creating the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); the INS was split up into its enforcement functions (which became part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its processing functions (Citizenship and Immigration Services, or CIS).
Prior to its dissolution in 2003, the INS was part of the Department of Justice. The CIS and ICE are both part of the DHS.
Because of its extraordinary power over the lives of millions of US nationals and residents, the Immigration and Naturalization Service gained lasting notoriety. Seven years after it was superseded by the CIS, most people associated visa regulations with the INS.
"Brother from Another Planet" was a brilliant parody of INS agent behavior.
"Brother from Another Planet" was a brilliant parody of INS agent behavior.
by Primus Intra Pares June 16, 2010
short for Insurgency, especially when used in reference to Insurgency, the steam MOD for CS and Half-Life
by ins_sinjar May 04, 2009
Acronym for the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the brach of the United States Government burdened with the responsibility of treating non-Americans who wish to become Americans like inorganic garbage in a demoralizing form of torture commonly known as immigration. This despite the fact that all Americans as the world knows it are in fact descendants of immigrants themselves. Note that those that figure out how to enter and reside in America without going through this process are rewarded with prizes like welfare and food stamps paid for by generous hard working tax paying Americans, while those that opt for immigration are made to wait years and years filling out expensive forms, untangling miles of red tape and enduring the vicious, dehumanizing abuse of immigration and/or consulate officals. see also purgatory.
Why border-jump and immediately freeload off taxpayer money for the rest of your non-English speaking life when you can instead go through years of INS?
by themarcuscreature February 21, 2005
Itchy Nipple Syndrome, abbreviated as INS, refers to the feeling of uncontrollable itchiness in the nipple region.
by Katykins19 January 17, 2017
by Jarrod Rouse February 05, 2006
by ham ham. March 09, 2008
by iteeeeezwhatiteeeeeez September 17, 2020