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Table 19. Individuals Granted Asylum Defensively by Region and Country of Nationality: Fiscal Years 2015 to 2017

The 2017 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics is a compendium of tables that provide data on foreign nationals who are granted lawful permanent residence (i.e., immigrants who receive a “green card”), admitted as temporary nonimmigrants, granted asylum or refugee status, or are naturalized. The Yearbook also presents data on immigration enforcement actions, including apprehensions and arrests, removals, and returns.

Table 19. Individuals Granted Asylum Defensively By Region Of Nationality: Fiscal Years 2015 To 2017
Region of Nationality 2015 2016 2017
   Total 8,193 8,758 10,523
Africa 1,353 1,295 1,531
Asia 4,803 4,263 4,266
Europe 535 501 537
North America 1,303 2,567 3,955
Oceania D - D
South America D 120 D
Unknown 32 12 18

 

Table 19. Individuals Granted Asylum Defensively By Country Of Nationality: Fiscal Years 2015 To 2017
Country of Nationality 2015 2016 2017
   Total 8,193 8,758 10,523
Afghanistan 14 23 28
Albania 76 95 122
Angola D 7 11
Argentina D D D
Armenia 21 19 36
Azerbaijan 11 D 14
Bangladesh 91 92 118
Belarus 35 25 27
Benin 10 D D
Bosnia and Herzegovina D D D
Brazil 4 7 11
Bulgaria D 6 D
Burkina Faso 52 71 78
Burma 20 17 10
Burundi 18 28 20
Cambodia D - -
Cameroon 92 115 218
Canada - 5 D
Central African Republic D D 8
Chad D 4 10
China, People's Republic 3,611 3,103 2,746
Colombia 56 25 38
Congo, Democratic Republic 21 8 31
Congo, Republic 16 29 23
Cote d'Ivoire 35 17 18
Cuba 11 7 62
Djibouti 12 D 11
Dominican Republic 6 9 6
Ecuador 44 43 75
Egypt 138 149 141
El Salvador 305 767 1,329
Eritrea 138 152 238
Ethiopia 252 183 153
Fiji - - D
Gambia 53 44 33
Georgia 8 9 10
Ghana 36 65 74
Guatemala 373 634 935
Guinea 40 49 78
Haiti 63 27 89
Honduras 309 625 933
India 299 310 464
Indonesia 25 11 10
Iran 37 58 49
Iraq 54 26 44
Israel D - D
Jamaica 7 6 7
Jordan D 4 D
Kazakhstan 16 18 31
Kenya 21 10 14
Kosovo 18 18 30
Kyrgyzstan 48 49 38
Laos D - -
Lebanon D 7 4
Liberia 6 6 8
Macedonia D D 5
Mali 33 25 31
Mauritania 28 12 20
Mexico 204 465 558
Moldova 41 32 27
Mongolia 8 8 9
Morocco 6 D -
Nepal 256 265 291
Nicaragua 19 19 28
Niger 7 D 4
Nigeria 65 61 70
Niue D - -
Pakistan 53 70 95
Peru 20 17 19
Philippines D D D
Romania 27 37 38
Russia 100 78 56
Rwanda 15 18 22
Saudi Arabia D 7 10
Senegal 20 7 23
Serbia and Montenegro (former) 18 19 25
Sierra Leone 5 5 12
Somalia 170 153 89
South Africa D - D
Soviet Union (former) 159 129 114
Sri Lanka 47 34 42
Sudan 19 25 25
Syria 101 75 137
Tajikistan 7 10 6
Togo 10 D 13
Turkey 14 4 12
Turkmenistan 4 D 4
Uganda 11 15 18
Ukraine 42 49 73
Uzbekistan 24 14 29
Venezuela 34 27 65
Vietnam D D D
Yemen 7 9 4
Zimbabwe D D 13
All other countries 1 51 42 60
Unknown 2 32 12 18

D Data withheld to limit disclosure.
- Represents zero.
1 Includes countries with fewer than 10 individuals granted asylum defensively per year.
2 Includes admissions from Palestinian Territory.
Note: In this table, data are withheld for any cell with a count of 1, 2, or 3, and for any associated cell that could be used to reveal such a count through calculation.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice.

Last Updated: 11/22/2023
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