A border surge reshaped America. Now, data shows who 4.5 million migrants were and where they went

The past decade saw a dramatic influx of migrants at America's borders, with millions arriving from more than 150 countries. This surge brought the U.S. immigrant population to its highest levels ever. A recent AP investigation obtained federal records detailing the destinations of 4.5 million migrants who crossed the Mexican border between October 2018 and July 2025.

The data reveals that migrants found homes in both major cities and smaller towns across the country. While many continued to head to established immigrant hubs like New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, an increasing number sought out smaller cities with less developed immigrant communities. Elkhart, Indiana; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Dodge City, Kansas, all saw significant influxes of migrants.

Notably, the majority of migrants were women and children, a shift from previous years when migrants were predominantly men. This demographic change was evident in various locations, with Tulsa, Oklahoma, attracting Mexican women and children, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, drawing Guatemalan women.

The surge in border crossings was fueled by improved social media connectivity and new migration routes, allowing people from diverse countries to enter the U.S. New York City's Queens borough, for example, saw significant arrivals from West Africa and Uzbekistan, diversifying its existing international communities. Similarly, Philadelphia's Queens Borough registered at least 25 nationalities, including Ecuador, China, Colombia, Venezuela, and India.

Florida remained the most popular state overall, but many Latin American migrants looked elsewhere for better job prospects and quality of life. Cuban immigrants found destinations throughout Florida, while Colombians settled in Aurora, Colorado. Paterson, New Jersey, became a top choice for Peruvians, and Venezuelans found homes in suburbs of Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Chicago, and Denver.