A new comprehensive analysis conducted by The Associated Press, drawing from U.S. federal immigration records obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request, has uncovered shifting patterns in migration destinations and demographics across the United States, with Philadelphia emerging as an unexpected major hub for new arrivals. The dataset examined by AP tracks roughly 4.5 million migrants who crossed the U.S.-Mexico southern border and were released into the country between October 2018 and July 2025, capturing self-reported intended destinations, nationality, age, gender, and other key personal details.
Unlike historic migration trends that concentrated new arrivals in longstanding gateway cities such as New York and Miami, the analysis reveals that the ongoing national migration surge is spreading outward to smaller urban centers and mid-sized communities across the country. Philadelphia stands out as one of the primary cities attracting migrants from an extraordinarily diverse set of national origins. At least 11 different countries have recorded 1,000 or more new arrivals intending to settle in the city, with Dominicans making up one of the largest groups, trailing only Brazil and Haiti in total arrivals. Significant numbers of migrants from Venezuela and Russia have also relocated to Philadelphia, while the broader Philadelphia metropolitan area has welcomed more than 1,000 new arrivals from Georgia in the same period.
Beyond shifting destination patterns, the data highlights a striking demographic shift reshaping modern U.S. migration. For the first time in recent history, women and children make up nearly 60 percent of all migrants released into the country after crossing the southern border — a sharp reversal from earlier eras where working-age men represented the clear majority of new arrivals.
AP researchers did note an important limitation to the data: the intended destinations provided by migrants upon entry are not officially verified by authorities, meaning some of those recorded as planning to settle in Philadelphia may have since relocated to other parts of the U.S., departed the country, or been deported. Even with this caveat, the detailed records offer an unprecedented clear snapshot of how the ongoing migration surge is redefining demographic and community landscapes across the United States, including Philadelphia, where the Dominican community is rapidly growing.