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Raw data: Lawful permanent residents in the US

We admit about a million lawful permanent residents every year:

Of these, about two-thirds are eligible to be naturalized and about half eventually become US citizens.

4 thoughts on “Raw data: Lawful permanent residents in the US

  1. censustaker1

    These are people admitted for lawful permanent residence (LPR) in the US -- that is, people who get "green cards." People with TPS are not "admitted for legal residence". TPS folks are basically unauthorized immigrants but the government has determined that it is too dangerous or unsafe for them to return home. They have been given a TEMPORARY status that allows them to stay in the US (and in most cases, to work legally). They key is that their status is temporary and if it is not renewed (regularly) they revert to being unauthorized and deportable.

    The LPR numbers have run around 1 million per year since 2000 with a couple of departures from the level trend -- one for COVID around 2020-21 and another post 9/11 for 2002-03 with some "rebound" after each dip as backlogged applications were processed. The data back to 2007 are here - https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/12/19/americans-lean-toward-keeping-legal-immigration-steady-see-high-skilled-workers-as-a-priority/

    Almost all of these LPRs will eventually be able to become US citizens. The only reason that Kevin says "about two-thirds" is that there is a waiting period of 5 years before most are eligible to naturalize. [It's only three years if you're married to a US citizen.]

    A bit more than half of legal immigrants eligible to become US citizens eventually do so, but the shares vary considerably depending on the countries of origin. For Mexicans and Central Americans, it's more like 40% but for many Asian countries, it's over 70%

    1. Ogemaniac

      You are incorrect. There are about 13 million LPRs in the country, about 8 million of whom have passed the five year threshold yet have chosen not to seek citizenship. While some eventually will, many have no plans to. This is usually because they are citizens of a country with strict anti-dual-citizenship laws, such as China or Japan. These LPRs prefer to keep the option of returning rather than the marginal benefits of US citizenship over LPR, and typically remain in this state permanently. I know many people in such circumstances personally, and they are being completely rational.

      1. SwamiRedux

        Took me about 20 years after my LPR status to become a citizen. Why? I wanted to vote for Obama.

        Since Trump 45 I advise friends to get citizenship if they can, because LPR can be revoked very easily.

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