WASHINGTON D.C.--The number of Filipinos immigrating to the United States posted a significant decline last year, according to the latest Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report.

However, a separate DHS report released the same day showed the number of Filipino immigrants who became naturalized American citizens rose in 2008.

"Legal immigration increased 5 percent, from 1,052,415 in 2007 to 1,107,126 in 2008," the DHS reported.

Despite the overall rise, the number of Filipinos immigrating to the US fell from 74,606 in 2006 to 72,596 the following year to 54,030 in 2008.

The Philippines slid from the third biggest source of immigrants in the US, overtaken by India despite a slight decrease in their own numbers during the same period.

Mexico remained the top source of immigrants followed by China.

"The number of new LPRs (legal permanent residents) that were born in the Philippines decreased as a result of a decline in the use of recaptured visa numbers made available in the employment-based third preference class," the report said.

Decline due to drop in job-based visas
Family-sponsored immigrants represented 65 percent of new "green card" holders. Employment-based preferences accounted for 15 percent of the total.

Visa recapturing, where Congress sets a numerical target tapping unused immigrant visas assigned to certain countries, had benefited mainly Filipino nurses and health care professionals.

But since the quota was filled up, Congress has not moved to extend visa recapturing.

California remained the top choice for the new immigrants, accounting for 22 percent of fresh LPRs in 2008.

Following behind are New York, Florida, Texas, New Jersey and Illinois.

But by metropolitan region, the bulk of new immigrants preferred the New York-New Jersey area, followed by the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana area, Miami-Fort Lauderdale area, and the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area.

The new immigrants were likely to be women, married, between 25 to 44 years old.

Browning of America
But more Filipino immigrants became American citizens last year.

From 40,500 in 2006, the numbers slid to 38,830 in 2007 before spiking to 58,792 in 2008.

Immigrants from Mexico and India top the naturalized American citizens.

Despite the higher number, the percentage of Filipinos who've become American citizens actually declined compared to the total 1,046,539 naturalized citizens last year - the biggest number ever in a single year, according to the DHS.

The agency attributed the jump to the large volume of applications submitted in 2007 ahead of a hefty increase in naturalization fees. They noted the number applications fell to 525,000 in 2008.

"Asia was the leading region of origin of new citizens in every year from 1976 to 2006 (except 1996-2000)," the report said.

But the DHS said that "beginning in 2007, naturalizations among North American-born immigrants again exceeded those of Asian-born immigrants."

"Green card" holders who were naturalized last year waited an average of 9 years before being granted citizenship. African-born immigrants spent the least time at 6 years and those born in North America the longest at 12 years.

Again, California, Florida and New York topped the areas where these new American citizens live.