USCIS Releases Immigration Statistics
The USCIS released its The Yearbook of Immigration Statistics, providing the latest immigration data for FY 2003. Highlights for 2003 include:
- Legal immigration in 2003 (705,827) was lower than in 2002 (1,063,732).
- Thirty-six percent of all immigrants were born in North America (16 percent in Mexico) and 35 percent were born in Asia.
- Sixty-three percent of all immigrants intended to reside in six states: California, New York, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, and Illinois.
- Nearly one of five immigrants intended to reside in New York City or Los Angeles.
- Refugee arrivals increased in 2003 by 5 percent to 28,306 after declining by 61 percent from 2001 to 2002.
- USCIS Asylum Officers approved 29 percent of asylum cases adjudicated in 2003.
- Total nonimmigrant admissions in 2003 (27.8 million) decreased by .2 percent from 2002 (27.9 million). Half were from four countries — the United Kingdom (16.3 percent), Mexico (15.5), Japan (12.9), and Germany (5.2).
- The DHS naturalized 463,204 persons in fiscal year 2003; forty-two percent were born in Asian countries, followed by 28 percent from North American countries.
- California was the intended residence of 29 percent of persons naturalizing, followed by New York with 14 percent.
- The number of deportable aliens located during 2003 declined 1.5 percent to 1.0 million.
- The number of removals increased almost 24 percent to more than 186,000.
- More than 79,000 criminal aliens were removed; Mexico led all countries of nationality with more than 62,500 (79 percent).
For the entire report, see here.
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