23-Year-Old U.S. Citizen Killed After DHS Agent Shooting on South Padre Island
TEXAS — A U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agent shot and killed a U.S. citizen in Texas in March 2025, according to records released this week.
The victim was identified as Ruben Ray Martinez, 23. Martinez's family, through their lawyers, confirmed he was fatally shot by DHS agents.
Shooting Occurred While Agents Assisted with Traffic and Immigration Enforcement
According to documents collected by the non-profit watchdog organization American Oversight, the incident occurred on March 15, 2025, on South Padre Island, while DHS agents were assisting local police with traffic control following an accident, and simultaneously conducting immigration enforcement operations in the area.
Records state that Martinez allegedly drove his vehicle into a DHS agent. Subsequently, another agent fired multiple shots at him. Martinez was transported to a hospital in Brownsville and was later pronounced dead.
The agent who was hit by the vehicle sustained a knee injury, received treatment, and was discharged from the hospital.
Victim's Family and DHS Present Conflicting Accounts
Martinez's family lawyers, Charles Stam and Alex Stamm, assert that Martinez was attempting to comply with local authorities' instructions at the time of the shooting. They have called for "a full and fair investigation" into the incident.
Meanwhile, a DHS spokesperson stated that Martinez "intentionally struck" an agent from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and described the shooting as an act of "self-defense."
The incident is currently under investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety, specifically its Ranger Division.
Use of Force Incidents Surge Nearly 400% During Immigration Crackdown
According to data cited by American Oversight, during the initial months of intensified immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, the number of use-of-force incidents sharply increased, showing a nearly 400% rise compared to the preceding period.
The Trump administration allocated approximately $170 billion to immigration agencies through September 2029 to enhance law enforcement capabilities.
Martinez's case is reportedly one of the first instances where a U.S. citizen died amid increased immigration enforcement operations nationwide. The investigation is ongoing, and no final conclusions have been reached.
