New data reveals origins and destinations of 4.5 million recent U.S. border migrants
Federal records show that 4.5 million people who crossed the southern border between October 2018 and July 2025 came from 174 countries and settled in both traditional hubs and smaller U.S. cities.
One outlet acquired federal data on 4.5 million migrants who entered the United States via the southern border from October 2018 through July 2025, covering both legal and illegal entries. Records include destination ZIP codes, country of citizenship, age, gender and the border sector where migrants were encountered. Migrants originated from 174 nations, expanding the demographic profile far beyond the historically dominant Mexican and Central American groups.
While traditional destinations such as New York City, Miami and Los Angeles remain popular, the surge also sent people to smaller communities like Elkhart, Indiana; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Dodge City, Kansas. Women and children now represent almost 60 % of those released, a dramatic change from previous years. Some migrants have relocated after their initial reporting, while others have stayed in the addresses they provided, though verification of those addresses is limited.
Why it matters
Understanding who is migrating and where they settle informs policy, resource allocation, and community planning across the United States.
How this story developed
- Aug 13 San Antonio immigrants live in constant fear as ICE arrests surge
- Aug 18 ICE released a draft plan to provide liability insurance to local officers making immigration arrests.
- Aug 22 San Diego County board approved a narrow vote to halt ICE and CBP firearms training at county‑owned ranges.
- Aug 23 An investigation found that 71% of detainee grievances were dismissed and only 8% were resolved in detainees’ favor.
- Aug 25 ICE began using a $45 billion allocation to shift legal ownership of detention centers to the federal government.
- Sep 1 ICE placed a mother and her adult daughter into custody after a hospital intake following a car crash in Florida.
- Sep 1 ICE carried out a raid in Memphis that arrested more than 100 people, the largest raid in the city’s history.
- Sep 11 A judge dismissed the deportation case against the Andhra Pradesh woman, yet ICE continued to require her reporting.
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