Table 3
Exemptions in Trump's executive order amount to nearly half of all green cards: New lawful permanent residents in exempted categories from Trump executive order of April 2020 by major class of admission, 2019
| Immigrant class of admission | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens | |
| Spouses | 304,102 |
| Children | 61,202 |
| Employment-based preferences | |
| Fifth: Employment creation (investors), and their spouses and children | 9,086 |
| Refugees | 81,061 |
| Asylees | 25,996 |
| Certain Iraqis and Afghans employed by U.S. Government and their spouses and children | 8,080 |
| TOTAL | 489,527 |
| Total green cards issued, all categories | 1,030,990 |
| Exempted categories as a percentage of total green cards | 47% |
Notes: Totals include green card applicants who applied for both adjustment of status (i.e., applicants for lawful permanent resident status who are already residing in the United States) and as new arrivals (applicants for lawful permanent resident status who are residing outside of the United States, usually in the country of origin).
Source: Author's analysis of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Legal Immigration and Adjustment of Status Report Fiscal Year 2019, Quarter 4, Table 1B.