2010 Annual Flow Report

characteristics of immigrants naturalized in 2010

The Office of Immigration Statistics has just released its Annual Flow Report, which presents information on the number and characteristics of immigrants who were naturalized during 2010. You can download the full report here: http://www.dhs.gov/files/statistics/publications/gc_1302103955524.shtm

Here are some highlights:

Mexico was the leading country of birth of persons naturalizing in 2010 (11 %). The next leading countries of origin of new citizens in 2010 were India (10 %), the Philippines (5.7 %), the People’s Republic of China (5.5 percent), and Vietnam (3.1 %). The 10 countries with the largest number of naturalizations accounted for 47 percent of all new citizens in 2010.

From 2008 to 2010, naturalizations increased among immigrants from Africa but decreased among immigrants from all other regions. This regional difference partly reflects the increase in naturalizations of asylee LPRs resulting from the elimination of the annual limit of 10,000 asylum adjustments of status under the REAL ID Act of 2005. About one in six persons from African countries naturalizing in 2010 were asylee LPRs.

Seventy-two percent of all persons naturalizing in 2010 resided in 10 states. California was home to the largest percentage of persons naturalizing (21 percent), followed by New York (11 %) and Florida (11 %).

52% of all new citizens in 2010 lived in 10 metropolitan areas. The leading metropolitan areas of residence were New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA (15 %), Los Angeles-Long
Beach-Santa Ana, CA (8.4 percent), and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL (6.8 %).
 

Persons naturalizing in 2010 spent a median of six years in legal permanent resident status before becoming citizens. Immigrants born in Africa, Asia, and South America spent the least time in legal immigrant status (5 years).

From 2008 to 2010, the median number of years spent in legal permanent resident status decreased by three years. This decrease may be partly attributable to compositional changes in persons naturalizing, such as asylee LPRs,3 and to reductions in processing times for naturalization applications as reflected by substantial declines in the pending caseload.

Posted: to Citizenship News on Fri, Apr 8, 2011
Updated: Fri, Apr 8, 2011