February 5, 2003 – The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has released its statistical report for the month of December 2002. Here is a brief synopsis of the report's findings.
· Immigration Benefits - The report noted that receipt of applications and petitions for immigration benefits in December 2002 increased 18 percent compared to December 2001. Approvals were down 35 percent while denials rose by 5 percent during these months. The total number of immigration application pending cases reached 4.8 million, an increase of 21 percent compared to December 2001.
· Inspections - Inspections in December 2002 increased by 3 percent over December 2001. Air admissions increased 18 percent and land admissions increased by less than 1 percent.
· Naturalization - Naturalization receipts in December 2002 decreased 27 percent while approvals were down 37 percent and denials were down 42 percent when compared to December 2001. In the first three months of fiscal year 2003, approximately 94,000 applicants for naturalization took the oath of citizenship.
· Removals - Removals for December 2002 increased 13 percent compared to December 2001. In December 2002, INS removed approximately 11,000 foreign nationals from the United States, 5,094 of whom were criminals.
· Asylum - Applications for asylum decreased 20 percent in December 2002 compared to the number filed in December 2001. The pending caseload was 7 percent lower than in the same month last year.
To view this report in its entirety, click here:
http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/aboutins/statistics/msrdec02/index.htm
· Immigration Benefits - The report noted that receipt of applications and petitions for immigration benefits in December 2002 increased 18 percent compared to December 2001. Approvals were down 35 percent while denials rose by 5 percent during these months. The total number of immigration application pending cases reached 4.8 million, an increase of 21 percent compared to December 2001.
· Inspections - Inspections in December 2002 increased by 3 percent over December 2001. Air admissions increased 18 percent and land admissions increased by less than 1 percent.
· Naturalization - Naturalization receipts in December 2002 decreased 27 percent while approvals were down 37 percent and denials were down 42 percent when compared to December 2001. In the first three months of fiscal year 2003, approximately 94,000 applicants for naturalization took the oath of citizenship.
· Removals - Removals for December 2002 increased 13 percent compared to December 2001. In December 2002, INS removed approximately 11,000 foreign nationals from the United States, 5,094 of whom were criminals.
· Asylum - Applications for asylum decreased 20 percent in December 2002 compared to the number filed in December 2001. The pending caseload was 7 percent lower than in the same month last year.
To view this report in its entirety, click here:
http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/aboutins/statistics/msrdec02/index.htm