Muslim Green Card Report

The Senate just received the report on the number of Green Cards given to Muslim Immigrants in 2013 and 2014 with some references to 2015.  

May 26, 2016 For Immediate Release Contact: Bradley Jaye, 202.224.4124

Background From The Subcommittee On Immigration And The National Interest: According to data published last week by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security <https://www.dhs.gov/yearbook-immigration-statistics-2014-lawful-permanent-residents>,

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) granted Lawful Permanent Resident (green card) status to 103,901 migrants from countries in the Middle East in Fiscal Year 2014 - 32 percent more than the 78,917 it issued in Fiscal Year 2013, and over 56 percent more than the 66,415 that it issued in Fiscal Year 2001.

Although DHS has not yet published statistics for Fiscal Year 2015, the 103,901 new green cards issued in Fiscal Year 2014 brings the total number of green cards issued to migrants from the Middle East from Fiscal Year 2001 through Fiscal Year 2014 to 1,114,453.

The greatest increases were seen in green cards issued to migrants from Afghanistan (2,196 in FY 2013 to 10,527 in FY 2014), Iraq (9,552 in FY 2013 to 19,153 in FY 2014), and Pakistan (13,251 in FY 2013 to 18,612 in FY 2014).

A green card entitles recipients to access federal benefits, lifetime residency, work authorization, and a direct route to becoming a U.S. citizen. Among those receiving green cards are individuals admitted to the U.S. as refugees, who must apply for adjustment to Lawful Permanent Resident (green card) status one year after admission. Refugees have immediate access to Federal welfare benefits, such as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

(TANF), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or food stamps), and Medicaid. The most recent report from the Office of Refugee Resettlement indicates high welfare use by refugees from the Middle East, with 39 percent using TANF, 76 percent using Medicaid or RMA, and nearly 90 percent using food stamps.<http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/orr/orr_annual_report_to_congress_fy_2014_signed.pdf>

Green Card Totals From Middle East Nations, FY 2014

Afghanistan (10,527), Armenia (2,913), Azerbaijan (672), Bahrain (122), Cyprus (129), Egypt (11,477), Georgia (1,240), Iran (11,615), Iraq (19,153), Israel (3,805), (Jordan (5,187), Kuwait (1,057), Lebanon (3,245), Oman (90), Pakistan (18,612), Qatar (202), Saudi Arabia (1,696), Syria (3,540), Turkey (3,834), Turkmenistan (254), United Arab Emirates (1,039), Yemen (3,492).

<http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=news-releases&id=86ACF80E-31A8-4DD2-BB4D-25CC7BB30611>.]

U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) serves on four Senate committees: Armed Services, Budget, Environment and Public Works, and Judiciary, where he is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and The National Interest.

Visit Sessions online at his website <http://sessions.senate.gov/public/> or via YouTube <http://www.youtube.com/user/SenatorSessions>,