Official website of the Department of Homeland Security
Table 16. Individuals Granted Asylum Affirmatively or Defensively: Fiscal Years 1990 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.
| Year | Total | Affirmative | Defensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 38,687 | 25,439 | 13,248 |
| 2017 | 26,509 | 15,846 | 10,663 |
| 2016 | 20,362 | 11,634 | 8,728 |
| 2015 | 26,015 | 17,847 | 8,168 |
| 2014 | 23,371 | 14,735 | 8,636 |
| 2013 | 25,014 | 15,247 | 9,767 |
| 2012 | 27,951 | 17,376 | 10,575 |
| 2011 | 23,572 | 13,434 | 10,138 |
| 2010 | 19,772 | 11,253 | 8,519 |
| 2009 | 22,314 | 12,014 | 10,300 |
| 2008 | 23,026 | 12,134 | 10,892 |
| 2007 | 25,334 | 12,475 | 12,859 |
| 2006 | 26,398 | 13,094 | 13,304 |
| 2005 | 25,349 | 13,592 | 11,757 |
| 2004 | 27,426 | 14,404 | 13,022 |
| 2003 | 28,791 | 15,415 | 13,376 |
| 2002 | 36,977 | 26,000 | 10,977 |
| 2001 | 39,179 | 29,178 | 10,001 |
| 2000 | 32,542 | 23,306 | 9,236 |
| 1999 | 26,578 | 18,157 | 8,421 |
| 1998 | 20,520 | 13,229 | 7,291 |
| 1997 | 22,933 | 16,374 | 6,559 |
| 1996 | 23,525 | 18,617 | 4,908 |
| 1995 | 20,697 | 17,567 | 3,130 |
| 1994 | 13,826 | 11,773 | 2,053 |
| 1993 | 9,540 | 7,506 | 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:
January 6, 2020