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OHSS | Office of Homeland Security Statistics

Table 16

The 2015 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 16. Individuals Granted Asylum Affirmatively Or Defensively: Fiscal Years 1990 To 2015
Year Total Affirmative Defensive
2015 26,124 17,878 8,246
2014 23,374 14,583 8,791
2013 25,151 15,205 9,946
2012 28,146 17,428 10,718
2011 23,557 13,419 10,138
2010 19,746 11,227 8,519
2009 22,280 11,980 10,300
2008 23,021 12,129 10,892
2007 25,307 12,448 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.