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.
| Class of Admission (Adjustments of Status and New Arrivals) | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 1,127,167 | 1,096,611 | 1,031,765 |
| Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens | 516,508 | 478,961 | 505,765 |
| Spouses | 292,909 | 268,149 | 304,334 |
| Children1 | 74,989 | 66,794 | 61,303 |
| Parents | 148,610 | 144,018 | 140,128 |
| Family-sponsored preferences | 232,238 | 216,563 | 204,139 |
| First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children | 26,219 | 27,251 | 24,497 |
| Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents | 113,500 | 109,841 | 93,398 |
| Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children | 23,260 | 19,531 | 25,213 |
| Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children | 69,259 | 59,940 | 61,031 |
| Employment-based preferences | 137,855 | 138,171 | 139,458 |
| First: Priority workers | 41,060 | 39,514 | 39,471 |
| Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability | 39,331 | 40,095 | 39,506 |
| Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers | 38,083 | 39,228 | 41,787 |
| Fourth: Certain special immigrants | 9,504 | 9,711 | 9,609 |
| Fifth: Employment creation (investors) | 9,877 | 9,623 | 9,085 |
| Diversity | 51,592 | 45,350 | 43,463 |
| Refugees | 120,356 | 155,734 | 80,908 |
| Asylees | 25,647 | 30,175 | 26,003 |
| Parolees | 26 | 14 | 16 |
| Children born abroad to alien residents | 75 | 69 | 60 |
| Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children | 19,191 | 10,297 | 8,081 |
| Cancellation of removal | 3,539 | 4,421 | 4,033 |
| Victims of human trafficking | 1,317 | 1,208 | 818 |
| Victims of crimes and their spouses and children | 18,065 | 15,012 | 18,442 |
| Other | 758 | 636 | 579 |
| Class of Admission (Adjustments of Status) | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 549,086 | 567,884 | 572,513 |
| Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens | 252,231 | 237,321 | 311,474 |
| Spouses | 177,473 | 156,475 | 217,646 |
| Children1 | 16,749 | 16,765 | 20,608 |
| Parents | 58,009 | 64,081 | 73,220 |
| Family-sponsored preferences | 13,478 | 12,448 | 18,999 |
| First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children | 1,929 | 1,952 | 3,606 |
| Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents | 5,846 | 4,389 | 8,205 |
| Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children | 2,093 | 1,539 | 2,303 |
| Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children | 3,610 | 4,568 | 4,885 |
| Employment-based preferences | 113,330 | 110,347 | 110,689 |
| First: Priority workers | 38,496 | 35,373 | 37,229 |
| Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability | 36,217 | 36,821 | 36,072 |
| Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers | 29,377 | 28,568 | 28,248 |
| Fourth: Certain special immigrants | 7,610 | 7,886 | 7,528 |
| Fifth: Employment creation (investors) | 1,630 | 1,699 | 1,612 |
| Diversity | 918 | 1,117 | 1,003 |
| Refugees | 120,356 | 155,734 | 80,908 |
| Asylees | 25,647 | 30,175 | 26,003 |
| Parolees | 26 | 14 | 16 |
| Children born abroad to alien residents | - | - | - |
| Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children | 46 | 32 | 22 |
| Cancellation of removal | 3,539 | 4,421 | 4,033 |
| Victims of human trafficking | 1,317 | 1,208 | 818 |
| Victims of crimes and their spouses and children | 17,993 | 14,909 | 18,326 |
| Other | 205 | 158 | 222 |
| Class of Admission (New Arrivals) | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 578,081 | 528,727 | 459,252 |
| Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens | 264,277 | 241,640 | 194,291 |
| Spouses | 115,436 | 111,674 | 86,688 |
| Children1 | 58,240 | 50,029 | 40,695 |
| Parents | 90,601 | 79,937 | 66,908 |
| Family-sponsored preferences | 218,760 | 204,115 | 185,140 |
| First: Unmarried sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their children | 24,290 | 25,299 | 20,891 |
| Second: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons/daughters of alien residents | 107,654 | 105,452 | 85,193 |
| Third: Married sons/daughters of U.S. citizens and their spouses and children | 21,167 | 17,992 | 22,910 |
| Fourth: Brothers/sisters of U.S. citizens (at least 21 years of age) and their spouses and children | 65,649 | 55,372 | 56,146 |
| Employment-based preferences | 24,525 | 27,824 | 28,769 |
| First: Priority workers | 2,564 | 4,141 | 2,242 |
| Second: Professionals with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability | 3,114 | 3,274 | 3,434 |
| Third: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers | 8,706 | 10,660 | 13,539 |
| Fourth: Certain special immigrants | 1,894 | 1,825 | 2,081 |
| Fifth: Employment creation (investors) | 8,247 | 7,924 | 7,473 |
| Diversity | 50,674 | 44,233 | 42,460 |
| Refugees | - | - | - |
| Asylees | - | - | - |
| Parolees | - | - | - |
| Children born abroad to alien residents | 75 | 69 | 60 |
| Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children | 19,145 | 10,265 | 8,059 |
| Cancellation of removal | - | - | - |
| Victims of human trafficking | - | - | - |
| Victims of crimes and their spouses and children | 72 | 103 | 116 |
| Other | 553 | 478 | 357 |
- Represents zero.
1 Includes orphans.
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security.