Melissa Gomez
@melissagomez.bsky.social
Covering immigration at the Los Angeles Times| A veces hablo español | Florida native | Journalism ain't dead. Chill. hmu: [email protected]
Pinned
Melissa Gomez
@melissagomez.bsky.social
· Nov 13
Melissa Gomez - Los Angeles Times
Melissa Gomez is an enterprise reporter on the State Team who joined the Los Angeles Times in 2018.
www.latimes.com
Hello! I’m a reporter at the Los Angeles Times. I’ll be posting my work and share my colleagues’ work here - you can find my stories here:
www.latimes.com/people/melis...
www.latimes.com/people/melis...
Reposted by Melissa Gomez
Cubans and other third-country nationals deported from the U.S. are being dropped off on the streets of Villahermosa, Mexico, where they struggle to survive.
Though Mexico receives these deportees, it does not give them any legal status to live or work there.
capitalandmain.com/im-lost-in-t...
Though Mexico receives these deportees, it does not give them any legal status to live or work there.
capitalandmain.com/im-lost-in-t...
‘I’m Lost in This Country’: Non-Mexicans Living Undocumented After Deportation to Mexico
Cubans and other third-country nationals are dropped off on the streets of Villahermosa where they struggle to survive.
capitalandmain.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Cubans and other third-country nationals deported from the U.S. are being dropped off on the streets of Villahermosa, Mexico, where they struggle to survive.
Though Mexico receives these deportees, it does not give them any legal status to live or work there.
capitalandmain.com/im-lost-in-t...
Though Mexico receives these deportees, it does not give them any legal status to live or work there.
capitalandmain.com/im-lost-in-t...
Thousands of Immigrant Students Flee L.A. Unified Schools After ‘Chilling Effect’ of ICE Raids
www.the74million.org/article/thou...
www.the74million.org/article/thou...
Thousands of Immigrant Students Flee L.A. Unified Schools After ‘Chilling Effect’ of ICE Raids
The nation’s second-largest district now enrolls about 62,000 English learners, down from more than 75,000 immigrant students in the 2024-25 academic.
www.the74million.org
November 25, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Thousands of Immigrant Students Flee L.A. Unified Schools After ‘Chilling Effect’ of ICE Raids
www.the74million.org/article/thou...
www.the74million.org/article/thou...
Reposted by Melissa Gomez
Farmworkers sue Trump administration in California over threat to wages
Farmworkers sue Trump administration in California over threat to wages
The United Farm Workers, along with more than a dozen farmworkers, filed a federal lawsuit in California challenging a new Labor Department rule they argue will "undercut and adversely affect" wages paid to U.S. workers.
www.latimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Farmworkers sue Trump administration in California over threat to wages
The FBI spied on a Signal group chat of immigration activists, records reveal
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
The FBI spied on a Signal group chat of immigration activists, records reveal
Exclusive: Agency accessed private conversations of New York ‘courtwatch’ group that was observing public hearings
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:02 PM
The FBI spied on a Signal group chat of immigration activists, records reveal
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Melissa Gomez
BREAKING: L.A. D.A. Nathan Hochman is moving to drop charges against Torrance officers in the 2018 fatal shooting of Christopher Deandre Mitchell, undoing a signature case filed by ex-D.A. George Gascon www.latimes.com/california/s...
D.A. moves to drop charges against Torrance officers in fatal shooting of Black man
Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman moved to dismiss a manslaughter indictment against two Torrance police officers who shot and killed Christopher Deandre Mitchell in 2018. Mitchell, a car ...
www.latimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:14 PM
BREAKING: L.A. D.A. Nathan Hochman is moving to drop charges against Torrance officers in the 2018 fatal shooting of Christopher Deandre Mitchell, undoing a signature case filed by ex-D.A. George Gascon www.latimes.com/california/s...
What an incredible piece of reporting from my former colleague @lajourno.bsky.social, who spent months reporting how the state has under-investigated children working in harsh conditions in fields across California. Spend the time to read and hear from the children.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
California's child farmworkers: Exhausted, underpaid and toiling in toxic fields
State officials are failing to protect the health and safety of thousands of young field laborers, an investigation has found.
www.latimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:50 PM
What an incredible piece of reporting from my former colleague @lajourno.bsky.social, who spent months reporting how the state has under-investigated children working in harsh conditions in fields across California. Spend the time to read and hear from the children.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Reposted by Melissa Gomez
An autopsy made public today shows a Border Patrol agent was depressed and died of a cocaine overdose a month after he was arrested in Long Beach. My latest: www.latimes.com/california/s...
Border Patrol agent died of cocaine overdose a month after Long Beach arrest, autopsy says
U.S. Border Patrol agent Isaiah Hodgson died of a cocaine overdose in August, one month after he was arrested for drunkenly fighting with Long Beach police, according to an autopsy report made public ...
www.latimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:36 AM
An autopsy made public today shows a Border Patrol agent was depressed and died of a cocaine overdose a month after he was arrested in Long Beach. My latest: www.latimes.com/california/s...
Immokalee is one of Florida's most low-income areas, and about 73% Latino. It's also heavily agricultural - this is like targeting the Central Valley in California.
www.gulfcoastnewsnow.com/article/immo...
www.gulfcoastnewsnow.com/article/immo...
Immokalee High School urges staff to support students after impact of ICE raids in Collier County
ICE agents have been detaining people across Collier County, causing emotional distress among students at Immokalee High School as families face uncertainty.
www.gulfcoastnewsnow.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Immokalee is one of Florida's most low-income areas, and about 73% Latino. It's also heavily agricultural - this is like targeting the Central Valley in California.
www.gulfcoastnewsnow.com/article/immo...
www.gulfcoastnewsnow.com/article/immo...
Maribel Lopez was supposed to be protected from deportation because she had a pending asylum case on appeal, after fleeing years of abuse in Guatemala. Instead, she was deported in error & left behind a 2-year-old son. Now back in the U.S., she remains in detention.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/u...
She Was Deported in Error. Her Child Was Left Behind.
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Maribel Lopez was supposed to be protected from deportation because she had a pending asylum case on appeal, after fleeing years of abuse in Guatemala. Instead, she was deported in error & left behind a 2-year-old son. Now back in the U.S., she remains in detention.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/u...
Reposted by Melissa Gomez
"What are young and/or struggling journalists supposed to think when the most successful people in the business are the ones with malleable ethics and poor judgement (and, to be honest, pretty bad writers)?"
@marisakabas.bsky.social with some sharp thoughts 👇🏼
www.thehandbasket.co/p/moral-rot-...
@marisakabas.bsky.social with some sharp thoughts 👇🏼
www.thehandbasket.co/p/moral-rot-...
Moral rot in elite journalism is killing the whole field
The Nuzzi/RFK Jr. mess and the revelation of Epstein’s journo pals lay bare a profound moral absence at the heart of our free press.
www.thehandbasket.co
November 19, 2025 at 9:52 PM
"What are young and/or struggling journalists supposed to think when the most successful people in the business are the ones with malleable ethics and poor judgement (and, to be honest, pretty bad writers)?"
@marisakabas.bsky.social with some sharp thoughts 👇🏼
www.thehandbasket.co/p/moral-rot-...
@marisakabas.bsky.social with some sharp thoughts 👇🏼
www.thehandbasket.co/p/moral-rot-...
Law enforcement physically attacked 72 journalists covering immigration in LA this year—more than double the city’s 2020 BLM protest total, according to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.
lapublicpress.org/2025/11/indy...
lapublicpress.org/2025/11/indy...
Scrappy and underpaid, LA's independent reporters risk it all to cover the ICE beat
Law enforcement physically attacked 72 journalists covering immigration in LA this year—more than double the city's 2020 BLM protest total, according to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.
lapublicpress.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Law enforcement physically attacked 72 journalists covering immigration in LA this year—more than double the city’s 2020 BLM protest total, according to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.
lapublicpress.org/2025/11/indy...
lapublicpress.org/2025/11/indy...
Reposted by Melissa Gomez
An L.A. jury deadlocked on assault charges against an ex-Whittier who shot and paralyzed an unarmed man in 2020, leading to a mistrial. My latest: www.latimes.com/california/s...
Mistrial declared in case of ex-Whittier cop charged for shooting unarmed man in back
Jurors could not reach a verdict against former Whittier police detective Salvador Murillo, who was charged with multiple counts of assault for shooting a fleeing unarmed suspect in the spine in 2020,...
www.latimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:34 PM
An L.A. jury deadlocked on assault charges against an ex-Whittier who shot and paralyzed an unarmed man in 2020, leading to a mistrial. My latest: www.latimes.com/california/s...
Reposted by Melissa Gomez
I will never forget having to edit Jamal’s final, posthumous piece for the Washington Post, after he was murdered.
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
Opinion | Jamal Khashoggi: What the Arab world needs most is free expression
The Arab world needs a modern version of the old transnational media so citizens can be informed about global events.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I will never forget having to edit Jamal’s final, posthumous piece for the Washington Post, after he was murdered.
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
“[We] at The Washington Post will continue to remind you that one of our colleagues in the not-so-distant past was murdered... “That’s not something we can just wipe under the rug or forget about.”
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Trump defends Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing
The de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia was branded a pariah in 2018 after the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Now, U.S.-Saudi relations are approaching a high point.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:50 PM
“[We] at The Washington Post will continue to remind you that one of our colleagues in the not-so-distant past was murdered... “That’s not something we can just wipe under the rug or forget about.”
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Reposted by Melissa Gomez
A homeless man who had previously been banned from L.A. Metro for violence was convicted today of murder and robbery for stabbing a 67-year-old woman to death on the B Line last year. www.latimes.com/california/s...
Man who stabbed woman in the throat as they rode L.A. Metro is found guilty of murder
Elliot Tramel Nowden faces life in prison for stabbing Mirna Soza Arauz to death while robbing her on the B Line L.A. Metro train.
www.latimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:24 AM
A homeless man who had previously been banned from L.A. Metro for violence was convicted today of murder and robbery for stabbing a 67-year-old woman to death on the B Line last year. www.latimes.com/california/s...
Reposted by Melissa Gomez
For sea creatures, plastic is often deadly. New research shows it takes just 6 pieces the size of a pencil eraser to kill sea birds. It’s the first time scientists have quantified how much plastic it takes to kill a bird, marine mammal or turtle. @susrust.bsky.social www.latimes.com/science/stor...
How little plastic does it take to kill marine animals? Scientists have answers
Ocean plastic kills sea creatures. For the first time, researchers set out to find out how much it takes. The answer: Surprisingly little.
www.latimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:59 AM
For sea creatures, plastic is often deadly. New research shows it takes just 6 pieces the size of a pencil eraser to kill sea birds. It’s the first time scientists have quantified how much plastic it takes to kill a bird, marine mammal or turtle. @susrust.bsky.social www.latimes.com/science/stor...
Trump ‘knew about the girls,’ Jeffrey Epstein claimed in explosive emails released by House Democrats
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
Trump 'knew about the girls,' Jeffrey Epstein claimed in explosive emails released by House Democrats
Donald Trump “spent hours at the house” and “knew about the girls,” Jeffrey Epstein wrote in emails House Democrats released Wednesday.
www.latimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Trump ‘knew about the girls,’ Jeffrey Epstein claimed in explosive emails released by House Democrats
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
what a heartbreaking story.
chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2...
chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2...
He worked hard to give me a home. ICE took his: How I lost my father to deportation
Deportation has taken away the father I once knew and given me back a person I no longer recognize.
chicago.suntimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:40 PM
what a heartbreaking story.
chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2...
chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2...
“Because all the bees are girls, worker bees are girls, I say, ‘Girls, you’re going to be on the news tonight,’” Nicholas said. “Or I’ll say, ‘Girls, how are you doing this morning?’ I just want to give them a heads-up.”
a great read by @tarantulaarms.bsky.social
www.latimes.com/california/s...
a great read by @tarantulaarms.bsky.social
www.latimes.com/california/s...
California city tried to stamp out 10-year-old’s beehive project. Saving the bees was a lesson in love
Before he goes out for lacrosse games, it's tradition that he has a spoonful of honey. Also, perhaps not coincidentally given what happened later, he gets a kick out of seeing tiny insects work togeth...
www.latimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:12 PM
“Because all the bees are girls, worker bees are girls, I say, ‘Girls, you’re going to be on the news tonight,’” Nicholas said. “Or I’ll say, ‘Girls, how are you doing this morning?’ I just want to give them a heads-up.”
a great read by @tarantulaarms.bsky.social
www.latimes.com/california/s...
a great read by @tarantulaarms.bsky.social
www.latimes.com/california/s...
“Union baristas mean business and are ready to do whatever it takes to win a fair contract,” Eisen said in a statement. “If Starbucks keeps stonewalling, they should expect to see their business grind to a halt. The ball is in Starbucks’ court.”
www.latimes.com/business/sto...
www.latimes.com/business/sto...
Unionized Starbucks baristas prepared to strike next week amid lengthy contract standoff
Unionized Starbucks baristas have voted overwhelmingly to authorize their leaders to call a strike as soon as next week if they don't see real progress in contract talks.
www.latimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:07 PM
“Union baristas mean business and are ready to do whatever it takes to win a fair contract,” Eisen said in a statement. “If Starbucks keeps stonewalling, they should expect to see their business grind to a halt. The ball is in Starbucks’ court.”
www.latimes.com/business/sto...
www.latimes.com/business/sto...
“If you’re thinking, ‘Alessandro’s giving up,’ look deeper. I am choosing freedom. For the first time, I feel unshackled from the expectations of waiting.”
beautiful read by my colleague Andrea Castillo
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
beautiful read by my colleague Andrea Castillo
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
For this undocumented activist, returning to Mexico wasn’t exile. It was liberation
Hector Alessandro Negrete was brought to the U.S. from Mexico as an infant. When President Trump began his second term, Negrete decided to leave L.A. for Mexico.
www.latimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:26 PM
“If you’re thinking, ‘Alessandro’s giving up,’ look deeper. I am choosing freedom. For the first time, I feel unshackled from the expectations of waiting.”
beautiful read by my colleague Andrea Castillo
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
beautiful read by my colleague Andrea Castillo
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
Reposted by Melissa Gomez
Many of you have been watching our contract fight at the L.A. Times and asking how to help. Now's the time.
Tell our managers that you'll honor the picket line if negotiations drag to a point where we're forced to call a strike. You can sign here:
actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
Tell our managers that you'll honor the picket line if negotiations drag to a point where we're forced to call a strike. You can sign here:
actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
Support Los Angeles Times journalists fighting for a fair contract
The newsroom staff of the Los Angeles Times, represented by Media Guild of the West (NewsGuild-CWA 39213), has been bargaining a new union contract for more than 18 months. In that time, the company h...
actionnetwork.org
October 29, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Many of you have been watching our contract fight at the L.A. Times and asking how to help. Now's the time.
Tell our managers that you'll honor the picket line if negotiations drag to a point where we're forced to call a strike. You can sign here:
actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
Tell our managers that you'll honor the picket line if negotiations drag to a point where we're forced to call a strike. You can sign here:
actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
“The planet’s vital signs are flashing red,” the scientists wrote in their annual report on the state of the climate. “The window to prevent the worst outcomes is rapidly closing.”
Humanity is on path toward ‘climate chaos,’ scientists warn, by @ianjames.bsky.social
www.latimes.com/environment/...
Humanity is on path toward ‘climate chaos,’ scientists warn, by @ianjames.bsky.social
www.latimes.com/environment/...
Humanity is on path toward 'climate chaos,' scientists warn
Global use of fossil fuels rose to a new record last year, releasing even more greenhouse gases. Humanity is 'hurtling toward climate chaos,' scientists warn.
www.latimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:29 PM
“The planet’s vital signs are flashing red,” the scientists wrote in their annual report on the state of the climate. “The window to prevent the worst outcomes is rapidly closing.”
Humanity is on path toward ‘climate chaos,’ scientists warn, by @ianjames.bsky.social
www.latimes.com/environment/...
Humanity is on path toward ‘climate chaos,’ scientists warn, by @ianjames.bsky.social
www.latimes.com/environment/...
Reposted by Melissa Gomez
quoted for truth:
‘“Since the fire, I most relate to other people who also experienced it,” Pedersen said.’
🎯💯
‘“Since the fire, I most relate to other people who also experienced it,” Pedersen said.’
🎯💯
In Altadena, a grassroots dining club to help restaurants has grown to more than 1,300 online followers, helping local businesses while giving neighbors a chance to meet and discuss recovery from the Eaton fire. my latest -->
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Restaurants that survived the Eaton fire are struggling. This club hopes to change that
The Altadena Dining Club was formed to help local restaurants stay afloat after the Eaton fire, while simultaneously bringing neighbors together to discuss the recovery.
www.latimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:28 AM
quoted for truth:
‘“Since the fire, I most relate to other people who also experienced it,” Pedersen said.’
🎯💯
‘“Since the fire, I most relate to other people who also experienced it,” Pedersen said.’
🎯💯
Reposted by Melissa Gomez
"Human-caused climate warming is making all of Melissa’s dangers worse." weather.com/science/weat...
Climate Change Fuels More Powerful Storms Like Melissa | Weather.com
As Hurricane Melissa moves across Jamaica, climate scientists are saying storms are becoming stronger. Here's why.
weather.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:27 PM
"Human-caused climate warming is making all of Melissa’s dangers worse." weather.com/science/weat...