This week, newly released documents reveal that a federal immigration agent shot and killed an American citizen in Texas back in March 2025. This incident occurred just months before a significant increase in deportations in Minnesota, which resulted in the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Preti.
The individual who lost his life was 23-year-old Ruben Ray Martinez, according to a statement from his family’s attorney.
On March 15, 2025, while assisting local police with a traffic stop in South Padre Island, Martinez reportedly fired multiple shots at an agent and allegedly struck another Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employee with his vehicle. These details come from records obtained by the nonprofit group, American Oversight.
The officers were, at the time, conducting immigration control activities.
This incident marks what appears to be the first known instance of a U.S. citizen being killed during the Trump administration’s strict immigration enforcement efforts.
Federal agents involved in immigration enforcement have faced increasing scrutiny lately. There are reports of several shooting incidents, with claims that at least five people were shot by agents, including Preti and Good, just in January.
Investigation Inquiry by Family Lawyer
Attorneys Charles and Alex Stam, representing Martinez’s family, stated that he was trying to follow local police instructions when he was shot and called for a thorough investigation into the matter.
“Reuben’s family has been advocating for transparency and accountability for almost a year, and they intend to keep pushing for that,” the attorneys noted.
As deaths have risen amid President Trump’s immigration policies, public and legislative criticism has increased. Lawmakers are expressing concern about the government’s tactics.
The Trump administration has drastically stepped up immigration enforcement, with funding allocated for the Immigration Bureau projected to reach $170 billion by September 2029, which is quite significant.
After Martinez was shot, he was taken to a nearby hospital in Brownsville, Texas, where he was pronounced dead. Reports indicate that the agent who was hit by Martinez’s vehicle suffered a knee injury but was later released from the hospital.
“These documents paint a concerning picture of the violent tactics employed by ICE,” remarked Chioma Chukwu, executive director of American Oversight. “In the early months of this administration, the data from ICE indicates incidents requiring the use of force have surged by nearly 400 percent, leading to hospitalizations and even fatalities among American citizens.”
A representative from the Department of Homeland Security stated that Martinez “deliberately ran over” a DHS employee, which prompted another employee to “fire defensively.” The Texas Department of Public Safety Ranger Division is currently investigating the incident, though a DPS spokesperson did not provide a comment when approached.
