The Newest New Yorkers: How Immigrant Groups Navigate Visa Pathways

New York is a city of immigrants, but its makeup is shaped by U.S. immigration laws. Join Donnise Hurley, a senior geographic analyst at the New York City Department of City Planning, for a preview of the upcoming publication of The Newest New Yorkers, 2026 where she analyzes federal data from the Office of Homeland Security Statistics (OHSS) to reveal the hidden impact of immigration policy on New York City’s demographic landscape. You will receive a snapshot of the lawful permanent resident (i.e., “green card”) categories most used by foreign-born groups during the 2010s and see how these admission patterns have shifted over time. You will also gain clarity on the difference between OHSS administrative data on lawful permanent residents and the more familiar U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) data on the characteristics of the foreign-born population overall. Whether you are a New Yorker curious about your community or a researcher, librarian, or policymaker, this talk offers insight into how the law sets the parameters for immigration flows to the city.