2011 saw reverse of Israel-US immigration trends

The number of Israelis moving to the US dropped in 2011, while the number of people coming to Israel from the US grew, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Wednesday.

Fewer than 3,850 Israelis migrated to the US last year, the lowest number since 2003. In previous years more than 5,000 Israelis headed west across the Atlantic, with a record 5,943 people making the transition in 2006.

According to the Jewish Agency, 4,070 US-born Jews made aliyah during 2011, marking a positive Jewish increase to Israel even after subtracting those who journeyed in the opposite direction.

The numbers include only the official information, and don’t reflect illegal immigration.

Liam Shwartz, a specialist in US immigration law, told Yedioth that much of the decrease can be attributed to the US economic woes. He pointed out that most of the Israelis who received a Green Card did so because of a change in marital status, while less than a third received residential status for business purposes.