Millions Illegally Crossed The Border. New Data Shows Where They Went

Millions of undocumented immigrants crossed the U.S.-Mexico border during the Biden administration, with new data revealing where many settled. An analysis of federal records obtained by The Associated Press tracks the self-reported destinations of 4.5 million migrants released into the United States following border crossings between October 2018 and July 2025. The data highlights how mass migration and open-border policies have transformed communities nationwide, with migrants arriving from over 150 countries and contributing to the highest level of foreign-born residents in U.S. history. Venezuelans and Cubans were among the largest groups, with approximately 773,000 and 539,000 arrivals, respectively. Migrants from Latin American nations such as Mexico, Honduras, and Colombia dispersed widely, settling in major metropolitan areas across California, Texas, and Florida. The movement was not limited to Latin America, as migrants from India, Africa, and the Middle East also reached communities throughout the American Midwest and heartland. In Cincinnati, Ohio, migrants arrived primarily from West Africa, Uzbekistan, and India. Columbus, Chicago, and the New York City region also saw substantial inflows. California's Silicon Valley experienced a notable increase in Indian migrants, while Haitian migrants largely settled in South Florida, Indianapolis, Boston, and New York City. Suburbs near Salt Lake City attracted a large number of Venezuelans, who comprised the largest group released during the seven-year period. Chinese migrants concentrated in major urban centers, with Los Angeles and New York leading in arrivals. Cubans predominantly settled in Florida, with nine of their top ten destinations located there, though some migrated to unexpected locations in Kentucky, Nebraska, and Texas. Colombians gathered in the Denver suburb of Aurora, and Peruvians moved to Paterson, New Jersey. New York City ZIP codes received migrants from 26 different nationalities, with Queens alone seeing 34 ZIP codes receiving arrivals from at least 30 countries. Philadelphia mirrored this trend, with 19 ZIP codes attracting migrants from multiple countries. Over 40% of the migrants released were men aged 18 to 39. However, certain communities saw higher numbers of women and children, such as Tulsa, Oklahoma, which received Mexican women and children, and Spring Valley, New York, which welcomed Ecuadorian families. Guatemalan women and children found their way to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Recent months have seen increased enforcement under the Trump administration, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) making a record 50,925 arrests in August, marking the third consecutive month of record numbers and the highest monthly total in the agency’s history.