Melissa del Bosque

Melissa del Bosque joined The Texas Observer staff in 2008. She specializes in reporting on immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border. Her work has been published in national and international publications including TIME magazine and the Mexico City-based Nexos magazine. She has a master’s in public health from Texas A&M University and a master’s in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.

Border Communities Living in Limbo While Congress DithersMay 17, 2013
In early May, Ruben Villarreal, Mayor of Rio Grande City, channeled the frustration of many residents in Starr and Hidalgo counties, where a proposed [...] Full Story
Central American Migrants Advocate for Immigration Reform in ‘Caravan of Hope’May 10, 2013
Last year 23-year-old Pedro Aguilar left his home in Honduras to take the perilous journey north to the United States. His dreams for a [...] Full Story
The Priest Who Travels With BodyguardsApr 29, 2013
Father Alejandro Solalinde isn't well known in the United States. But in Mexico, he is recognized for his bravery. He dares to speak out about corrupt government officials, and organized crime, and he shelters migrants from the cartels. Full Story
Border Residents Disappointed by Fence Provision in New Immigration Reform BillApr 17, 2013
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators released their comprehensive immigration reform bill late Tuesday. It’s thrilling to finally see a reform bill which looks like it has some momentum come out of Congress—until you see the first section devoted to border security, which is like a kick in the gut for border communities. Full Story
Another Big Corruption Case in Hidalgo CountyApr 11, 2013
Another mind-boggling corruption case out of Hidalgo County was revealed Wednesday, when a 13-count federal indictment was filed against the Department of Homeland Security’s [...] Full Story

The Priest Who Travels With BodyguardsApr 29, 2013
Father Alejandro Solalinde isn't well known in the United States. But in Mexico, he is recognized for his bravery. He dares to speak out about corrupt government officials, and organized crime, and he shelters migrants from the cartels. Full Story
Why Blog del Narco Became Mexico’s Most Important WebsiteApr 03, 2013
As Mexico’s media outlets stopped reporting on the cartels and the government remained silent, Blog del Narco, launched in March 2010, began to fill the void. Full Story
The Deadliest Place In MexicoApr 01, 2013
The Observer’s Melissa del Bosque was named a finalist today for a National Magazine Award for this story. Full Story
The Shadow of the SonMar 27, 2013
Can Sheriff Lupe Treviño's legacy survive the indictments and accusations of corruption in his department? Full Story
If It Were Up To Us…Jan 06, 2013
We detail a dozen items that deal with the biggest problems in the state. Some of them are liberal fantasies (ahem, income tax) but others are sound public policy ideas that Texans of all ideologies support because they would improve the lives of millions of people. Full Story