Cuban Migration Patterns in the U.S. Shift: New Destinations Beyond Florida

Data obtained by The Associated Press through a Freedom of Information Act request highlights a significant shift in the demographic landscape of the United States over the past decade, as millions of migrants have dispersed across the nation, reaching beyond traditional hubs like New York and Miami.

The analysis involves federal records detailing the declared destinations of 4.5 million migrants who were released into the U.S. after crossing the Mexican border—either legally or illegally—between October 2018 and July 2025.

These records include destination zip codes, country of citizenship, age, gender, and the date of encounter with border authorities.

Emerging Destinations for Immigrants

"Some headed to long-standing immigrant magnets—New York, Miami—but increasingly, others found their way to smaller cities with less established immigrant communities," says the AP report.

The arrival of Cubans and other migrants in new locations within the United States illustrates a constantly evolving migration landscape. Stay updated on this topic in our U.S. Immigration section.

Places like Elkhart, Indiana; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Dodge City, Kansas, have seen their neighborhoods and demographic composition transform.

Cincinnati experienced a surge of West African migrants and has become a favored destination for individuals from Uzbekistan.

Diverse Migrant Origins

The Border Patrol encountered migrants from 174 countries in a single year, a stark contrast to earlier periods when crossings were primarily from Mexico and Central America. The rise of social media and new migration routes have been crucial in facilitating this global influx.

In the Queens district of New York, at least 25 nationalities with significant arrivals were recorded. Five countries each contributed more than 7,000 people to that district alone: Ecuador, China, Colombia, Venezuela, and India.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, welcomed more than 1,000 migrants from 11 different nationalities, led by Brazil, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, with notable numbers from Russia and Venezuela as well.

Demographic Shifts in Migrant Profiles

Another significant finding from the analysis is the shift in the profile of those crossing: "Nearly six out of ten migrants released at the border were women and children, a dramatic change from a few years ago when migrants were predominantly men."

Tulsa, Oklahoma, attracted Mexican women and children; Spring Valley, New York, saw the arrival of Ecuadorian women and children; and Chattanooga, Tennessee, welcomed Guatemalan women.

Cubans Expanding Beyond Florida

For Cubans, Florida remained the primary destination—with nine of the ten most frequent destination zip codes located in that state—but the AP analysis confirms significant flows to other parts of the country.

Louisville, Kentucky, has emerged as a new hub for the Cuban diaspora. About 30,000 Cubans have settled in Jefferson County, with over 15,000 arriving since 2021, drawn by job opportunities at companies such as GE Appliances, Amazon, and UPS.

Grand Island, Nebraska, houses 1,377 Cubans, the largest community of that origin in the state. Odessa, Texas, is another emerging destination.

This trend accelerated from 2021, coinciding with Cuba's economic and political crises, which triggered a mass exodus. By 2024, the Cuban community in the U.S. reached 2.9 million, a 23% increase since 2019, making it the third-largest Latino population group in the country.