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A federal immigration agent shot and killed 23-year-old U.S. citizen Ruben Ray Martinez in South Padre Island, Texas, in March 2025, according to newly released records. The fatal shooting occurred months before the Trump administration’s expanded immigration enforcement surge, which later drew national attention following additional deadly incidents in Minnesota.
Records obtained by nonprofit watchdog group American Oversight show that agents with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were assisting local police with traffic control after an accident on March 15, 2025. During the operation, agents were also conducting immigration enforcement activities. According to the documents, a DHS agent fired multiple rounds at Martinez after he allegedly struck another agent with his vehicle.
Martinez was transported to a hospital in Brownsville, Texas, where he was pronounced dead. The injured agent was treated for a knee injury and later released. A DHS spokesperson stated that Martinez “intentionally ran over” a Homeland Security Investigations agent, prompting another agent to fire what officials described as defensive shots.
Attorneys Charles Stam and Alex Stamm, representing Martinez’s family, dispute aspects of the account. They said Martinez was attempting to comply with instructions from local law enforcement at the time of the shooting and are calling for a full and transparent investigation. The family has been seeking accountability for nearly a year.
The Texas Department of Public Safety’s Ranger Division is leading the ongoing investigation. Officials have confirmed the case remains active.
The incident has intensified scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement policies under President Donald Trump. According to American Oversight, DHS data indicates a nearly 400% increase in use-of-force incidents during the early months of the administration’s immigration crackdown. With $170 billion allocated for immigration agencies through 2029, advocates and lawmakers continue to debate the scope, oversight, and consequences of expanded enforcement actions.
