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Table 19. Individuals Granted Asylum Defensively by Region and Country of Nationality: Fiscal Years 2016 to 2018

The 2018 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 2016 to 2018
Region of Nationality 2016 2017 2018
   Total 8,728 10,663 13,248
Africa 1,297 1,537 1,618
Asia 4,265 4,336 5,685
Europe 488 532 704
North America 2,549 4,026 4,892
Oceania - D D
South America 116 D D
Unknown 13 19 11

 

Table 19. Individuals Granted Asylum Defensively by Country of Nationality: Fiscal Years 2016 to 2018
Country of Nationality 2016 2017 2018
   Total 8,728 10,663 13,248
Afghanistan 23 28 28
Albania 85 115 167
Angola 7 11 19
Argentina D - D
Armenia 17 37 60
Azerbaijan D 14 21
Bangladesh 91 119 289
Belarus 25 27 39
Benin D D -
Bosnia and Herzegovina D D D
Brazil 5 9 22
Bulgaria 6 D 4
Burkina Faso 71 78 63
Burma 15 9 14
Burundi 28 20 22
Cambodia - - D
Cameroon 114 221 316
Canada 5 D D
Central African Republic D 7 11
Chad 4 10 8
China, People's Republic 3,108 2,795 3,061
Colombia 24 37 39
Congo, Democratic Republic 8 31 50
Congo, Republic 32 23 39
Cote d'Ivoire 16 19 22
Cuba 7 62 161
Djibouti D 11 6
Dominican Republic 8 7 8
Ecuador 41 77 119
Egypt 148 141 164
El Salvador 764 1,355 1,786
Eritrea 149 239 272
Ethiopia 181 154 123
Fiji - D D
Gambia 44 31 33
Georgia 9 11 10
Ghana 65 74 35
Guatemala 636 953 1,021
Guinea 49 79 88
Haiti 27 93 51
Honduras 618 956 1,188
India 315 470 956
Indonesia 9 12 19
Iran 57 51 53
Iraq 26 45 74
Israel - D D
Jamaica 7 8 10
Jordan D D 7
Kazakhstan 18 30 25
Kenya 10 14 23
Kosovo 19 30 31
Kyrgyzstan 50 37 64
Laos - - D
Lebanon 6 4 8
Liberia 9 8 11
Macedonia D 5 6
Mali 25 31 33
Mauritania 12 20 13
Mexico 455 557 629
Moldova 32 30 40
Mongolia 8 9 17
Nepal 262 292 468
Nicaragua 19 28 35
Niger D 4 D
Nigeria 66 70 53
Pakistan 71 94 132
Peru 17 19 26
Philippines D D 11
Romania 37 38 43
Russia 80 58 119
Rwanda 19 22 38
Saudi Arabia 7 10 9
Senegal 7 23 12
Serbia and Montenegro (former) 17 28 18
Sierra Leone 5 11 21
Somalia 152 89 42
South Africa - D D
Soviet Union (former) 130 117 107
Sri Lanka 33 42 58
Sudan 24 26 25
Syria 78 144 156
Tajikistan 10 6 15
Togo D 13 11
Turkey 4 12 26
Turkmenistan D 4 9
Uganda 15 20 29
Ukraine 48 68 106
Uzbekistan 15 32 50
Venezuela 27 67 121
Vietnam D D 6
Yemen 9 4 22
Zimbabwe D 13 13
All other countries 1 43 54 63
Unknown 2 13 19 11

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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