Melissa Cruz

1 month ago | immigrationimpact.com | Melissa Cruz

The American Immigration Council does not endorse or oppose candidates for elected office. We aim to provide analysis regarding the implications of the election on the U.S. immigration system. In a tense exchange during a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Democratic Sen.

Feb 22, 2025 | onlineathens.com | Melissa Cruz

Melissa CruzSpecial to the Athens Banner HeraldThe law puts the onus of immigration enforcement on federal authorities, requiring ICE to prioritize arrests for low-level offenses. ICE has expressed concerns about capacity limitations and potential release of individuals deemed public safety threats due to the law. Private prison companies like CoreCivic stand to gain significantly from the law's implementation and increased demand for detention facilities.

Dec 10, 2024 | usatoday.com | Melissa Cruz

In the weeks leading up to Donald Trump's second term, it appears that Vice President-elect JD Vance is nowhere in sight. Instead, Elon Musk – the world's richest person and largest single donor to the Trump re-election campaign – is by Trump’s side at every turn. The pair have been keeping busy since the election. They’ve flown together on Trump’s private Boeing 757, nicknamed Trump Force One. The president-elect attended Musk’s SpaceX launch in Texas.

Nov 30, 2024 | usatoday.com | Melissa Cruz

When Donald Trump was first elected in 2016, my father began carrying a copy of his U.S. passport everywhere he went. By that point, my dad had been an American citizen for over 25 years. He no longer considered Honduras his home. But he feared that wouldn’t matter in our Georgia town, its manicured lawns lined with “Make America Great Again” signs. If a cop pulled him over for any reason — or no reason at all — his tan skin and last name would be indictment enough.

Nov 20, 2024 | usatoday.com | Melissa Cruz

Congressional scrutiny over President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general pick, former Florida U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz, continues as some Senate Republicans call the House Ethics Committee to share its investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. Gaetz, who has represented Florida's 1st Congressional District since 2017, has been the focus of several investigations into his conduct since taking office.