Before Minnesota Shootings, A US Citizen Was Shot By Immigration Agent In Texas, Records Show

Last Updated:February 21, 2026, 22:52 IST

Martinez’s mother, Rachel Reyes, described him as a quiet and kind young man who worked at an Amazon warehouse and had no prior trouble with the law.

Newly released government records show that a 23-year-old US citizen was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent in Texas last year during a late-night traffic incident. The shooting, which took place on March 15, 2025, on South Padre Island, was not publicly disclosed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the time.

The victim, Ruben Ray Martinez, was killed during an operation involving Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officers who were assisting local police. The documents were obtained by the watchdog group American Oversight through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, according to a report by CBC.

What DHS Says Happened?

In a statement issued on Friday, DHS said the driver “intentionally ran over a Homeland Security Investigation special agent," prompting another agent to fire “defensive shots to protect himself, his fellow agents, and the general public."

According to an internal ICE report, HSI officers were helping South Padre Island police redirect traffic following a separate accident. A blue Ford vehicle approached the intersection. Officers ordered the driver to stop. The report does not explain why the vehicle was targeted.

Agents surrounded the car and instructed the occupants to step out. The report states that the driver then accelerated forward, striking one agent who landed on the bonnet. Another agent fired multiple shots through the open driver’s side window. Martinez was later pronounced dead at a hospital in Brownsville. His passenger was taken into custody.

Family Seeks Answers

Martinez’s mother, Rachel Reyes, said her son had travelled from San Antonio to South Padre Island to celebrate his birthday with a friend. She described him as a quiet and kind young man who worked at an Amazon warehouse and had no prior trouble with the law.

“He was a typical young guy," Reyes told The Associated Press. “He wasn’t a violent person at all."

Reyes said she later learned that federal agents, not local police, were involved in the shooting. She added that an investigator mentioned the existence of video footage that may contradict the federal account.

Investigation Ongoing

The Texas Rangers are leading the investigation. The Texas Department of Public Safety said the case remains “active". It is unclear whether the matter has been presented to a grand jury.

Legal representatives for Martinez’s family said they are seeking transparency and accountability, questioning why federal agents were involved in routine traffic control and why lethal force was used.

The case marks one of several deadly shootings involving federal officers during a broader immigration enforcement push.

News world Before Minnesota Shootings, A US Citizen Was Shot By Immigration Agent In Texas, Records Show

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