India Becomes Second-Largest Source Country for New Citizens in America after Mexico: Report
In a significant development, a total of 65,960 Indians officially became US citizens, making India the second-largest source country for new citizens in America after Mexico, according to the latest Congressional report. This data highlights the growing trend of Indian immigrants seeking citizenship in the United States.
According to the American Community Survey data from the US Census Bureau, an estimated 46 million foreign-born persons resided in the United States in 2022, comprising approximately 14% of the total US population of 333 million. Out of these, 24.5 million individuals, about 53%, reported their status as naturalized citizens.
The independent Congressional Research Service’s latest “US Naturalization Policy” report revealed that in the fiscal year 2022, a total of 969,380 individuals became naturalized US citizens. Individuals born in Mexico represented the largest number of naturalizations, followed by persons from India, the Philippines, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic.
As of 2023, a total of 2,831,330 foreign-born American nationals were from India, making it the second-largest group after Mexico. However, the report also highlighted that 42% of India-born foreign nationals living in the US are currently ineligible to become US citizens.
Despite the backlog of naturalization applications, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made progress in reducing the number of pending applications. As of the end of FY2023, USCIS had approximately 408,000 pending naturalization applications, down from previous years.
Overall, the data underscores the diverse immigrant population in the United States and the ongoing efforts to streamline the naturalization process for eligible individuals.