AP Records Reveal Destinations of 4.5 Million Migrants

Federal records obtained by the Associated Press reveal the destinations of 4.5 million migrants who entered the United States via the Mexican border between October 2018 and July 2025. The data, acquired through a Freedom of Information Act request, shows a significant diversification in migrant origins, with arrivals from 174 different countries in a single year, including India, Ecuador, and Ghana.

While Florida remains the most popular destination state, migrants are increasingly settling in smaller cities such as Elkhart, Indiana, and Dodge City, Kansas. Demographics have also shifted, with women and children now comprising nearly 60% of those released at the border.

The immigration surge peaked during the administration of Joe Biden and influenced the return of Donald Trump to the White House. Under the current administration, immigration arrests have targeted major hubs like New York and Miami, while other high-influx areas such as Silicon Valley and Madison, Wisconsin, have seen less enforcement activity.