DHS Confirms Third U.S. Citizen Death by ICE Agent in Texas, Rangers Lead Probe
Updated (8 articles)
March 15, 2025 Shooting Leaves Texas Citizen Dead Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, was driving a blue Ford on South Padre Island when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents directing traffic ordered him to stop; he accelerated, struck an HSI special agent on the vehicle’s hood, and a supervisory agent fired multiple rounds through the driver’s‑side window, killing Martinez with three bullet wounds and wounding the first agent’s knee[1][4]. Medics transported him to a Brownsville hospital where he was pronounced dead, while the passenger—also a U.S. citizen—was taken into custody[4]. The incident was not disclosed publicly until February 2026, after a Freedom of Information Act request uncovered internal ICE records[1].
DHS Acknowledges Third Fatal ICE Shooting of a Citizen The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Martinez’s death is the third known fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by a federal immigration officer during the Trump‑era mass‑deportation crackdown, joining the 2025 Minneapolis killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti[1][3]. DHS said the agent fired “defensive shots” after the driver “intentionally ran over” a colleague, framing the use of force as self‑defense[2][7]. Internal ICE documents obtained via FOIA reveal the agency’s involvement and an eleven‑month delay in public disclosure, prompting criticism of transparency[1][8].
Texas Rangers Conduct Active Grand Jury‑Bound Probe The Texas Department of Public Safety’s Ranger Division, supported by the Texas Rangers, has primary investigative authority and completed a state report in October that will be presented to a grand jury for possible criminal charges[5][6]. DHS reiterated that the FBI’s San Antonio office is not participating, directing all further inquiries to Texas officials[1][7]. Investigators have yet to release body‑worn or dash‑cam footage, and the probe remains “active” according to DPS statements[5][8].
Family and Lawmakers Press for Transparency Martinez’s mother, Rachel Reyes, has spent a year seeking answers, alleging that video evidence shown to her contradicts the federal account and demanding a full, fair investigation[2][4]. California Deputy Communications Director Diana Crofts‑Pelayo labeled the year‑long silence “deeply concerning,” while Governor Gavin Newsom publicly criticized the delay as a transparency failure[2][7]. Congressman Joaquin Castro, State Senator Roland Gutierrez, and Representative Greg Casar have called for an independent inquiry, citing an alleged eight‑month cover‑up[3].
Experts Question HSI Tactics and Lack of Video Police‑use‑force scholars such as Geoffrey Alpert argue that positioning agents in front of a moving vehicle is unjustified and that the absence of body‑camera or dash‑cam footage hampers accountability[5][6]. The case follows two earlier Minneapolis shootings that intensified scrutiny of ICE’s use‑of‑force policies, highlighting systemic concerns about federal agents’ tactical decisions[7][8].
Sources
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1.
Newsweek: DHS Confirms Third U.S. Citizen Killing After Newsweek Investigation: Details DHS confirmation of the third fatal ICE shooting, FOIA‑obtained ICE records, Texas Rangers leading the probe, and the family’s justice demands.
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2.
Newsweek: Mother of U.S. Citizen Killed by ICE Agent Calls for Answers After Year‑Long Silence: Focuses on Rachel Reyes’s plea, California officials’ criticism, and DHS deferring the investigation to Texas authorities.
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3.
Newsweek: ICE Agent’s Fatal Shooting of U.S. Citizen Ruben Ray Martinez Sparks Lawmaker Outcry: Highlights congressional calls for an independent inquiry, the eight‑month concealment claim, and lack of released video footage.
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4.
Le Monde: U.S. Citizen Killed in 2025 Texas Shooting Revealed by FOIA Documents: Provides a French‑language perspective on the traffic stop details, passenger custody, grand‑jury preparation, and video contradictions reported by the mother.
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5.
CNN: Texas Citizen Killed by Federal Immigration Agent in 2025 Traffic Stop: Places the incident as the earliest of six fatal officer shootings since the immigration crackdown and includes expert criticism of agent positioning.
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6.
AP: Federal Immigration Agent Killed Texas Man in 2025 Traffic Shooting, Records Reveal: Reports the same factual timeline, emphasizes the pending grand‑jury review, and notes expert concerns about tactical decisions.
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7.
Newsweek: Newsom Criticizes Year‑Long Silence on ICE Fatal Shooting of Texas Citizen: Covers Governor Newsom’s condemnation of the disclosure delay and connects the case to recent Minneapolis deaths.
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8.
Newsweek: ICE Agent’s Fatal Shooting of U.S. Citizen Ruben Ray Martinez Revealed: Describes how initial local coverage omitted ICE involvement, outlines the agencies in the investigation, and situates the case amid heightened ICE oversight.
Timeline
2021 – The federal immigration crackdown launches in President Trump’s second term, expanding border‑task‑force agents’ duties to interior immigration enforcement and creating the policy backdrop for later fatal officer incidents. [1]
Jan 7, 2025 – ICE agent Renée Nicole Good is fatally shot in Minneapolis, igniting a national debate over federal immigration agents’ use of force and prompting calls for independent investigations. [5]
Jan 24, 2025 – ICE agent Alex Pretti is killed in Minneapolis, intensifying scrutiny of ICE’s lethal tactics and adding pressure on agencies to review use‑of‑force policies. [5]
Mar 15, 2025 – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents direct traffic after a multi‑injury crash on South Padre Island, Texas; 23‑year‑old Ruben Ray Martinez ignores commands, accelerates into an HSI special agent on his vehicle’s hood, and a supervisory HSI agent fires multiple defensive shots, killing Martinez and injuring the agent’s knee; Martinez is pronounced dead at Valley Regional Medical Center and a passenger is taken into custody. [6][7][8]
Mar 15‑16, 2025 – Local media report an officer‑involved shooting but omit ICE involvement; the Texas Rangers, DPS Ranger Division, South Padre Island Police and Texas Parks and Wildlife launch a joint investigation, with the Rangers assuming primary authority. [6][7]
Oct 2025 – The Texas Department of Public Safety completes its state investigative report on the March shooting and prepares to submit findings to a grand jury for possible criminal charges. [7]
Mar 2025 – Feb 2026 – DHS withholds details of the ICE‑involved shooting for 11 months, resulting in a near‑year delay before the public learns a federal immigration agent fired the fatal shots. [1][5]
Feb 18, 2026 – American Oversight obtains internal ICE incident reports through a FOIA request, revealing HSI agents’ presence, their traffic‑control role and the defensive fire that killed Martinez; Newsweek publishes the findings. [6][8]
Feb 20, 2026 – Governor Gavin Newsom’s office criticizes the year‑long concealment, calling the delay “deeply concerning” and demanding transparency and accountability for the ICE shooting. [5]
Feb 21, 2026 – Mother Rachel Reyes publicly demands justice, saying her family has spent a year “searching for answers” and noting investigators showed her video evidence that contradicts the federal account. [4][8]
Feb 21, 2026 – Lawmakers—including Congressman Joaquin Castro, State Senator Roland Gutierrez and Representative Greg Casar—call for a full, independent investigation and label the concealment an “eight‑month cover‑up.” [3]
Feb 21, 2026 – Attorneys Charles M. Stam and Alex Stamm demand a “full and fair inquiry” into why HSI agents were present and used lethal force, citing expert criticism that agents should not position themselves in front of moving vehicles. [1][7]
Feb 2026 (ongoing) – The Texas Rangers continue the active investigation; the Texas Department of Public Safety says the probe remains active and will present the October report to a grand jury, while the FBI and DHS decline participation. [2][3][4]
2026 (planned) – The Texas grand jury is expected to review the state report and consider criminal charges against the HSI agents involved, as lawmakers and advocacy groups await the outcome. [7]