Refugee Arrivals to the U.S. Over Time

Each refugee has their own reasons for fleeing their country. The most common reasons during this period included armed conflict, religious and ethnic persecution, and political repression.

However, refugee arrivals vary greatly based on nationality due to ongoing domestic circumstances. As a result, the application process for refugee status can be difficult for those undergoing persecution to complete.

The closing of international borders and temporary lockdowns during the pandemic also complicated the application process, which partially explains the drop in 2020 and 2021 refugee arrivals.