How many asylum applications does the US receive each year?
Data updated May 28, 2024
Around 492K applications in 2022. The US asylum system helps resettle people who fear persecution if they return to their home country. Unlike refugees who apply for protection before arriving in the US or at its borders, asylum seekers apply after they are already in the US.
In 2022
492k
applications were submitted for asylum
In 2022
225%
more asylum applications were submitted than in 2021
The number of applications submitted for asylum each year varies based on global conditions. Compared to 2021, there was a 225% increase in the number of applications submitted in 2022.
Applications for asylum peaked in 2022
Applications by fiscal year
There are two main ways people can apply for asylum in the United States: through the affirmative process or the defensive process.
Affirmative asylum applicants proactively apply for asylum with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within one year of entering the US. These individuals might have entered the country via authorized means, like a visa, or through other means. When they apply for asylum, they are not yet facing any deportation proceedings.
Defensive asylum applicants seek asylum as a defense against deportation. These individuals might have been apprehended by immigration authorities or referred to court after an unsuccessful attempt at affirmative asylum.
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Both processes require applicants to demonstrate a genuine fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion to be approved. These proceedings can take months or years to resolve. Typically, asylum seekers are allowed to remain in the US while their case is pending.
In 2022, there were 238,841 affirmative applications and 253,524 defensive applications.
Applications for affirmative and defensive asylum increased in 2022
Applications by fiscal year
The reasons why individuals seek asylum in the United States are varied and often deeply rooted in the political, social, and economic conditions of their home countries. Many asylum seekers flee from violence, persecution, and instability, looking for safety and a chance to rebuild their lives. The countries with the highest numbers of asylum applicants reflect regions experiencing turmoil and human rights challenges.
In 2022, the largest numbers of affirmative asylum applications were submitted by individuals from Cuba and Venezuela.
Residents of Cuba were the largest group of affirmative applicants in 2022
The top countries for affirmative asylum applications highlight regions facing upheaval, and the defensive asylum applications reflect a similar pattern. In 2022, the largest number of defensive asylum applicants came from Venezuela.
Residents of Venezuela were the largest group of defensive applicants in 2022
