{
  "id": 8003263,
  "title": "How AP obtained and analyzed data on 4.5 million migrants released in the US at the border",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/how-ap-obtained-and-analyzed-data-on-4-5-million-migrants-released-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T10:06:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/09/17/how-ap-obtained-and-analyzed-data-on-4-5-million-migrants-released-in-the-us-at-the-border"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Associated Press obtained and analyzed data on the release of 4.5 million migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border over the past seven years. These individuals were apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol and released into the country, often seeking asylum or humanitarian assistance. The data included details such as nationality, age, gender, and the ZIP code where they were directed to reside in the United States. The AP filed a Freedom of Information Act request with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to obtain this information, which they initially provided in a limited public website format. After negotiations, the agency released records for 5.6 million people arrested for illegal entry between October 2018 and July 2025, containing information on their nationality, age, gender, and intended destination ZIP code. After excluding undocumented ZIP codes and likely duplicates, the final count of uniquely released migrants was 4.5 million. However, some of these individuals were likely returned to Mexico, as many lacked ZIP code information. The data revealed notable concentrations of migrants in certain areas, such as Karnes County, Texas, and Dallas, Texas, raising questions about the accuracy of self-reported addresses. The AP used the data to map trends and investigate specific locations, ultimately concluding that privacy concerns prevented them from publishing ZIP codes with fewer than 10 migrants.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}