Bradenton Herald week in review

Trump policy forces green-card seekers out of the US

The Trump administration has announced a sweeping new policy requiring most people seeking permanent U.S. residency to return to their home countries to apply, dealing a major blow to legal migration. A memo from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services instructs officers to treat adjustment of status — the process allowing people already in the U.S. to obtain green cards — as an “extraordinary form of relief” rather than routine. Over 500,000 people apply through this process annually, according to experts. The Cato Institute estimates more than 1.2 million people are currently awaiting adjustment of status. Critics say the policy is designed to prevent green cards from being granted at all, separating families and forcing workers to abandon jobs. In South Florida, where many residents sponsor family members, the impact could be especially significant. Litigation is widely expected.

Reported by Syra Ortiz Blanes, published May 22

ICE detains sister of Cuba’s top military firm chief

Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Adys Lastres Morera in Miami on Thursday after the State Department revoked her green card, citing national security concerns. She is the sister of Gen. Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, who heads GAESA, the Cuban military conglomerate authorities say controls most of Cuba’s economy and holds an estimated $18 billion in accounts. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said she was managing real estate and living in Florida while allegedly aiding Cuba’s communist regime. Public records show she was registered agent for two Florida companies. She became a permanent resident in 2023 and is now slated for deportation, ICE said. The detention is part of broader U.S. pressure on Havana to pursue political and economic reforms.

Reported by Syra Ortiz Blanes, published May 21

Palmetto woman faces DUI charges after golf course crash

A Palmetto woman faces multiple DUI-related charges after Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies say she crashed a red 2018 Hyundai Elantra at Streamsong Golf Resort on May 14. Erica Leigh Mayer, 34, allegedly drove across part of one of the resort’s golf courses before the vehicle jumped a sidewalk and struck a raised concrete curb, causing about $100 in damage, authorities say. Deputies reported she showed signs of impairment, including slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and an odor of alcohol, though Mayer denied drinking. She refused both field sobriety exercises and breath testing. Mayer faces charges of DUI with property damage, DUI, and refusal to submit to a DUI test. She has pleaded not guilty, and a hearing is scheduled for July 2 in Polk County. She was released after posting $8,000 bond.

Reported by Michael Moore Jr., | Bradenton Herald, published May 23

Driver dies in fatal Manatee County I-75 crash

A 25-year-old man from Orlando was killed early May 21 after his vehicle left Interstate 75 and struck an overpass support column in Manatee County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. near mile marker 228, where troopers say the driver failed to properly navigate a turn and drove off the roadway in his 2024 white Toyota Camry. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released by troopers. The crash remains under investigation

Reported by Amaia Gavica, published May 21

Manatee deputy resigns amid harassment investigation

A Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputy has resigned while under investigation for allegedly using a law enforcement database to harass a woman who had filed a complaint. Matthew Schwartz, 37, faces a third-degree felony charge of harassment by use of personal identification information, authorities say. Investigators say Schwartz accessed the sheriff’s office “Hexagon” records management system to obtain the woman’s personal details, then allegedly submitted her information to sites including Angie’s List and Craigslist, flooding her with unwanted solicitation calls and messages. During an internal affairs interview, Schwartz reportedly admitted he was upset about the complaint and acknowledged looking up her information. The charge carries an enhancement because a law enforcement database was allegedly used to commit the offense, according to court records. Spokesperson Melissa Conway confirmed Schwartz resigned before the internal investigation concluded but declined further comment.

Reported by Michael Moore Jr., published May 22

Woman charged in $100K Tesla fraud scam, police say

Bradenton police say a woman has been charged in connection with a scheme that allegedly defrauded a 66-year-old Bradenton man out of $100,000. Elizabeth Ann Hildbrand, 51, was arrested May 18 by the Bradenton Police Department’s Elder Fraud Unit and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in North Carolina on charges of grand theft and money laundering. The victim allegedly communicated via text and Telegram with individuals posing as brokers, transferring over $87,500 through wire transfers and cashier’s checks to accounts authorities say belonged to Hildbrand, while also purchasing $22,500 in Apple gift cards. After her arrest, Hildbrand reportedly claimed she believed she was in a romantic relationship with Elon Musk and was helping him buy cryptocurrency, though detectives say she continued accepting and transferring the victim’s funds. Hildbrand is awaiting extradition to Manatee County.

This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 1:24 PM with the headline "Bradenton Herald week in review."