Migrants from diverse nations settle in small U.S. towns

Asylum seekers from various nations are increasingly settling in smaller American cities and suburbs. In Lockland, Ohio, a town near Cincinnati, the arrival of approximately 2,000 Mauritanians in 2023 increased the local population by more than 50%.

Many migrants, including Samba Diallo, arrived after traveling through South and Central America to reach the United States. Diallo fled Mauritania due to political persecution by a repressive regime. The influx of migrants from roughly 75 different countries coincides with an unprecedented surge of 4.5 million people entering the U.S. through the southern border between October 2018 and July 2025.

In towns like Lockland, where formal immigrant services are often unavailable, established community members have stepped in to assist newcomers. These migrants often arrive with minimal possessions, having sold assets like land and cattle to fund their journeys.