Information on Immigration Statistics

October 30, 2007

Data about immigration is often not absorbed in the public debate about immigration or misreported in the popular press. To help us all get the available facts right, the Migration Information Source released a Spotlight today on some of the most frequently requested U.S. immigration statistics. The Spotlight includes data on: Current and historical numbers and shares of immigrants to the United States Immigrants’ demographic, educational, and linguistic characteristics Immigrants in the workforce Immigrants’ geographical distribution in the United States Annual immigration flows Immigration from Mexico — including maps on Mexican states from which migrants come and US states where they settle Unauthorized immigrants — estimates of numbers from top source countries, as well as apprehension and deportation figures Immigration control and enforcement spending Naturalization trends Backlogs — including processing times of legal permanent resident applications.

For example, the 2006 data show the following (including a few surprises):

Almost 60 percent of all foreign born in the United States came from ten countries.

Of the nearly 1.3 million new lawful permanent residents, 45.8 percent were an immediate relative of a US citizen, 17.5 percent came through a family-sponsored preference, and 12.6 percent through an employment-based preference.

Another 17.1 percent adjusted from a refugee or asylee status, and 3.5 percent were diversity-lottery winners.

Between 2000 and 2006, the five states with the largest percent growth of the foreign-born population were Delaware, South Carolina, Nevada, Georgia, and Tennessee.

The Department of State issued about 5.8 million nonimmigrant visas. The majority (52.3 percent) were temporary business and tourist visas, followed by J-1 exchange visitor visas (5.3 percent), and F-1 and F-2 academic visas for students and their families (5 percent).

In terms of the highest rates of unauthorized population growth between 2000 and 2006, India was first (125 percent), followed by Brazil (110 percent) and Honduras (75 percent).

Between 2003 and 2006, the budget for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security branch responsible for immigration enforcement, grew 53 percent to $3.6 billion.