WASHINGTON?Attorney General John Ashcroft announced a major restructuring of the Immigration and Naturalization Service Wednesday and said it would help fight terrorism and speed up service.

The plan seeks to separate the two often-conflicting INS missions of keeping out foreigners who violate U.S. law and helping legal immigrants and visitors, he said.

“The restructuring of the immigration institutions we undertake today will make the INS a better service to our friends and a greater obstacle to our enemy,” Ashcroft said.

The change fulfills a campaign pledge by President Bush to try to reduce long waits endured by people who apply for benefits such as naturalization or permanent residence.

It also seeks to address deficiencies in how the INS tracks foreigners who enter the country. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks entered the United States legally.