Green-Card Holders and Legal Immigration to the United States
More than 1 million people became lawful permanent residents (LPRs) of the United States in 2012, with family-sponsored immigrants accounting for two-thirds of those gaining a green card. This Migration Information Source Spotlight examines federal statistics on foreign nationals who gained LPR status during 2012.
Some interesting tidbits:
— The number of new arrivals remained relatively stable at about 420,000 annually between 1986 and 2012.
— In 2012, more than 1 million people were granted lawful permanent resident status.
— Family reunification accounted for two-thirds of all lawful permanent immigration in 2012. Employment-preference immigrants made up 14 percent of all lawful permanent immigration in 2012.
— In 2012, about 15 percent of all lawful permanent residents were status adjusters who entered as refugees or asylees.
— Mexico, China, India, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic were the top five countries of birth of new lawful permanent residents in 2012.
— California, New York, Florida, Texas, and New Jersey were home to 58 percent of new LPRs in 2012.
— In 2012, close to 8.8 million lawful permanent residents were eligible for naturalization, up from 8.1 million in 2010.
KJ