US Gives 100,000 Migrants Citizenship

Refugees and asylees accounted for about one-ninth of all new U.S. citizens in fiscal 2023.

A total of just over 100,000 migrants—71,100 asylees and 29,000 refugees—were part of the approximate total of 878,500 individuals who were naturalized and became U.S. citizens, according to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Naturalization ceremonies in fiscal 2022 and 2023 comprised 24 percent of all naturalizations over the past decade, according to the data.

A noncitizen generally must spend at least five years as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) to be eligible for naturalization, while a spouse of a U.S. citizen must spend at least 3 years as a lawful permanent resident.

Most people who were naturalized last year were eligible based on being LPRs for at least five years, which accounted for about 82.9 percent of the total, followed by applicants who were eligible based on being LPRs for at least three years and married to a U.S. citizen for three years, which accounted for 15.6 percent.

The median years spent as an LPR for all citizens naturalized in fiscal 2023 was seven years.

The median years spent as an LPR is based on the time between the date USCIS approved an individual's adjustment of status application, or when the individual entered the U.S. as an LPR and the date the individual took the Oath of Allegiance, the final step in the naturalization process.

Immediate relatives, composed of spouses (188,200), parents (64,800) and children (38,100) were the largest class of admission who became citizens, totaling 291,100.

Citizens by way of family preference, in which visas are provided by the federal government for more distant, family relationships involving a U.S. citizen and Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), accounted for 169,200 naturalizations. The number of immigrants in these categories is limited each fiscal year.

Migrants who became U.S. citizens based on employment preferences totaled 123,000. According to USCIS, federal immigration law provides immigrants with employment-based categories that include a first preference towards priority workers—which encompass individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics; outstanding professors and researchers; or certain multinational managers and executives.

A second preference is for those part of professions who hold advanced degrees or who have exceptional ability. The third preference is for skilled workers, professionals or other workers.

The largest age group of newly naturalized citizens were in the 35-39 range, totaling 123,800. They were followed by those aged 30-34, totaling 112,300, and those aged 40-44, totaling 108,500.

California was the only state to surpass six digits in terms of new naturalized citizens, far outpacing Texas (99,900), Florida (94,100), New York (92,800) and New Jersey (39,000).

The top 10 cities or boroughs that experienced the biggest uptick in naturalized citizens were Brooklyn (19,400), Miami (15,800), Houston (15,700), the Bronx (13,000) and Los Angeles (9,300).