USA Immigration Laws

United States immigration laws are covered under the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS). The USCIS in turn is one of the many federal government components that fall under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The law section of USCIS deals with the regulations and interpretations of USA immigration laws, while the DHS, in turn, is responsible for investigating and enforcing the US immigration laws, as well as the customs laws, and air security laws.

For more information on the Department of Homeland Security and its control over U.S. immigration click on DHS and Immigration.

USA Immigration Laws

The basis of U.S. immigration law is the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) which came into being in 1952. This Act can also be found in the United States Code (U.S.C.) which is the collection of all United States laws. To view the 51 titles of U.S. Code visit Cornell University Law School.

Since 1952 the INA has undergone multiple public law amendments over the years. Amendments are first published in the Federal Register, then again listed in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The CFR is mirrored on the United States Code (U.S.C.), and as such, you will find that both Title 8 of the CFR, and Title 8 of the U.S. Code covers “Aliens and Nationality”.

To view the United States immigration laws go to:

• The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
• The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) has been amended numerous time. For a list of the different laws amending the INA see: Public Laws Amending the INA
• Once new laws have been enacted by Congress, they are then implemented via regulations issued by the different agencies which are responsible for overseeing and applying these regulations. Once the regulations have been published in the Federal Register, they are again published in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is the complete collection of all the current regulations passed. The section of the CFR which pertains to immigrations and covers “Aliens and Nationality” see: Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations
• There are other federal government agencies whose areas of responsibility are closely linked to immigration:
  Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations – Department of State
  Title 6, Code of Federal Regulations – Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Security

For more information on the United States immigration laws go to U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services/Laws.