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.

Observer Panel at SXSW Interactive: Tweeting the Drug War (Video)Mar 14, 2013
What can the most censored state in Mexico teach others about freedom of expression during a devastating drug war? Full Story

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

Are U.S. Agents Who Shoot Mexicans Across the Border Above the Law?Oct 22, 2012
In the past month, U.S. Border Patrol agents have fatally shot two Mexican nationals standing on Mexican territory, which makes this the sixth fatal shooting on Mexican soil by U.S. agents since 2010. Full Story
No Road HomeSep 04, 2012
It’s July 1, the night of Mexico’s presidential election, and on television it looks like democracy. Expensively dressed, well-coiffed TV news anchors transmit live [...] Full Story
Dream Act Students Celebrate Reprieve from DeportationsJun 15, 2012
DREAM Act students are still in a state of excited shock after learning Friday morning that President Obama will grant renewable two-year permits to [...] Full Story
Veracruz Journalist Asks for Asylum, Gives Urgent Plea for Help for Colleagues in MexicoMay 23, 2012
In the battle for territory by organized crime in Mexico, the state of Veracruz has become one of the most violent and contested conflict [...] Full Story
Portrait of a Party-SwitcherMay 14, 2012
After the Republican sweep of 2010, state Rep. J.M. Lozano was the last Democrat standing from the Coastal Bend area near Corpus Christi. With [...] Full Story