---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 291"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "291"
heading: "Abolishment of INS"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/291"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter IV — Border, Maritime, and Transportation Security"
  - "Part F — General Immigration Provisions"
---

# §291. Abolishment of INS

- (a) **In general—** Upon completion of all transfers from the Immigration and Naturalization Service as provided for by this chapter, the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) of Justice is abolished.
- (b) **Prohibition—** The authority provided by [section 542 of this title](/usc/6/542.md) may be used to reorganize [functions](/usc/6/101.md?p=9) or organizational units within the Bureau of Border Security or the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, but may not be used to recombine the two bureaus into a single [agency](/usc/6/671.md?p=1) or otherwise to combine, join, or consolidate [functions](/usc/6/101.md?p=9) or organizational units of the two bureaus with each other.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title IV, § 471, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2205.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 107–296, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2135, known as the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 101 of this title and Tables.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Bureau of Border Security, referred to in subsec. (b), changed to Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement by Reorganization Plan Modification for the Department of Homeland Security, eff. Mar. 1, 2003, H. Doc. No. 108–32, 108th Congress, 1st Session, set out as a note under section 542 of this title.