INS Releases FY 2000 Legal Immigration Numbers

The INS recently released a report on the numbers for legal immigration in FY 2000 based on CLAIMS (Computer Linked Applicant Information Management System) information. These numbers include individuals who obtained immigrant visas abroad and newly entered the U.S. and those who were already in the U.S. and adjusted status.

At the beginning of the report, the INS states that the numbers of legal immigrants in FY 2000 and in other recent years, has been affected by the backlog of adjustment of status applications still pending with the INS. According to the INS, the effect of the backlog in trying to determine the composition of legal immigrants is undeterminable.

According to the Report, a total of 849,807 individuals were granted legal permanent residence in the U.S. in 2000, an increase of just over 200,000 individuals from 1999’s number of 646,568. The 200,000 increase was concentrated in adjustment of status of applicants. At the end of FY 2000, there were approximately 1 million adjustment applications pending at the INS.

Of the legal immigrants, 69% were family sponsored, 13% were employment preferences, and 8% were refugees or asylees.

The primary destinations for immigrants in FY 2000 were concentrated in six states, as it has been since 1971. These states are California (217,753) New York (106,061), Florida (98,391), Texas (63,840), New Jersey (40,013) and Illinois (36,180). Overall, these six states are the primary destinations for over 66% of immigrants.

Immigrants from Mexico, P.R. China, the Philippines, India, and Vietnam constituted 39% of the total immigrants in 2000 with the following numbers: Mexico (173,919), P.R. China (45,652), the Philippines (42,474), India (42,046) and Vietnam (26,747). As in 1999, these five countries where were the largest percentage of immigrants came.

For more information go to: http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/aboutins/statistics/IMM2000AR.pdf

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