The senator was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. She studied at the University of Puerto Rico while working for the Popular Democratic Party. In 1981, she joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Mainz, Germany. She continued her education while in the military by studying at the U.S. Quartermaster School, Big Bend Community College, Temple University and the University of Maryland's overseas division. She was honorably discharged in 1987.

Senator Cruz-Perez moved to Camden in 1991 and became an executive assistant to the vice president of Cooper's Ferry Development Association. In 1993, she became a community liaison to the mayor of Camden. From 1998 to 2013, she was the outreach and community coordinator for the Camden County Improvement Authority. At the time of her assent to the Senate, she was in charge of the Camden County Department of Constituent Services and the Office of Hispanic Affairs.

The Senator has served on numerous volunteer boards including the Rutgers University Board of Directors, Camden County Democratic Committee, and the South Jersey Eye Center. She sponsored laws to improve Camden's operations and economy, enhance state and legislative ethical standards, establish a body armor grant program for sheriff departments, and allow public housing projects to evict residents convicted of certain crimes.