Official website of the Department of Homeland Security
Table 16. Individuals Granted Asylum Affirmatively or Defensively: Fiscal Years 1990 to 2019
The 2019 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.
| Year | Total | Affirmative | Defensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 46,508 | 27,643 | 18,865 |
| 2018 | 37,567 | 24,382 | 13,185 |
| 2017 | 26,199 | 15,639 | 10,560 |
| 2016 | 20,152 | 11,457 | 8,695 |
| 2015 | 25,814 | 17,674 | 8,140 |
| 2014 | 23,077 | 14,441 | 8,636 |
| 2013 | 24,842 | 15,075 | 9,767 |
| 2012 | 27,920 | 17,345 | 10,575 |
| 2011 | 23,608 | 13,470 | 10,138 |
| 2010 | 19,777 | 11,258 | 8,519 |
| 2009 | 22,303 | 12,003 | 10,300 |
| 2008 | 23,022 | 12,130 | 10,892 |
| 2007 | 25,318 | 12,459 | 12,859 |
| 2006 | 26,352 | 13,048 | 13,304 |
| 2005 | 25,304 | 13,547 | 11,757 |
| 2004 | 27,376 | 14,354 | 13,022 |
| 2003 | 28,743 | 15,367 | 13,376 |
| 2002 | 36,937 | 25,960 | 10,977 |
| 2001 | 39,148 | 29,147 | 10,001 |
| 2000 | 32,514 | 23,278 | 9,236 |
| 1999 | 26,571 | 18,150 | 8,421 |
| 1998 | 20,507 | 13,216 | 7,291 |
| 1997 | 22,939 | 16,380 | 6,559 |
| 1996 | 23,532 | 18,624 | 4,908 |
| 1995 | 20,703 | 17,573 | 3,130 |
| 1994 | 13,828 | 11,775 | 2,053 |
| 1993 | 9,543 | 7,509 | 2,034 |
| 1992 | 6,307 | 4,123 | 2,184 |
| 1991 | 5,035 | 2,908 | 2,127 |
| 1990 | 8,472 | 5,672 | 2,800 |
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of Justice.
Last Published Date:
October 28, 2020