Alien Legalization and Adjustment of Status: A Primer

Abstract

Immigration patterns have changed substantially since 1952, when policy makers codifying the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) assumed that most aliens becoming legal permanent residents (LPRs) of the United States would be arriving from abroad. In 1975, more than 80% of all LPRs arrived from abroad. By 2005, however, only 34% of all aliens who became LPRs had arrived from abroad; most LPRs adjust status within the United States. This report summarizes the main avenues for foreign nationals currently in the United States -- legally or illegally -- to become LPRs. Alien legalization or "amnesty," as well as adjustment of status and cancellation of removal options, are briefly discussed. Designed as a primer on the issues, the report provides references to other CRS products that track pertinent legislation and analyze these issues more fully. This report will be updated as needed.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 02, 2010
Accession Number
ADA514773

Entities

People

  • Ruth E. Wasem

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Cancellation
  • Congress
  • Data Analysis
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Determinants (Mathematics)
  • Employment
  • Homeland Security
  • Immigrants
  • Immigration
  • Information Operations
  • International Organizations
  • Law
  • Personnel Management
  • Removal
  • Undocumented Noncitizens
  • United States

Readers

  • Canadian European Scientific Immigration and Epilepsy Clearance Studies
  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Systems Analysis and Design