Over 4 Million Crossed the Border: Their Nationalities and Where They Went

An unprecedented surge in border crossings transformed the United States over the last decade. Millions of people arrived from more than 150 different countries. This brought the immigrant population to historic levels.

What countries did the migrants come from?

Border Patrol registered migrants from 174 different countries in a single year. This contrasts with earlier periods, when the majority were from Mexico and Central America.

According to The Associated Press, the growth of social media facilitated new global migration routes. That is why people arrived from places as different as India, Ecuador, and Ghana.

Which cities received the most diverse nationalities?

Some cities with historic immigrant communities became even more diverse. Others, smaller ones, received new and significant migration flows.

City or area	Notable data
Queens, New York	At least 25 nationalities; five countries sent more than 7,000 people each (Ecuador, China, Colombia, Venezuela, and India)
Philadelphia	11 nationalities with at least 1,000 newcomers, led by Brazil, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic
Philadelphia metropolitan area	More than 1,000 migrants from Georgia (the country)
Cincinnati	Large influx from West Africa; popular destination for migrants from Uzbekistan

Therefore, mid-sized cities like Cincinnati also became relevant arrival points.

Where did Latin Americans go?

Florida remained the most popular state overall. However, many Latin American migrants sought other destinations with better employment opportunities.

Nationality	Primary destinations
Cubans	Majority in Florida; also Louisville (Kentucky), Grand Island (Nebraska), and Odessa (Texas)
Colombians	Aurora, a suburb of Denver
Peruvians	Paterson, New Jersey
Venezuelans	Suburbs south of Salt Lake City; also Atlanta, Chicago, and Denver

According to The Associated Press, nine out of every ten top zip codes for Cubans are in Florida. Therefore, that state remains key for that specific community.

Were there more men or women?

Nearly six out of every 10 migrants released at the border were women and children. This represents a significant change compared to previous years, when men predominated.

This pattern varied depending on the destination and nationality of each group. For example, Tulsa, Oklahoma, attracted primarily Mexican women and children.

Similarly, Ecuadorian women and children arrived in Spring Valley, New York. Guatemalan women, meanwhile, headed to Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Where did Chinese migrants go?

Chinese migrants crossed primarily through the border