By Trendsetter Tribune 
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX — New federal records unsealed this week have revealed that a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, Ruben Ray Martinez, was fatally shot by a federal immigration agent nearly a year ago—an incident that authorities reportedly kept quiet for months. The records, obtained by the watchdog group American Oversight, show that Martinez was killed on March 15, 2025, during a traffic stop involving Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents.
The revelation has sparked immediate outrage among lawmakers and civil rights advocates, who are accusing federal and state authorities of a deliberate “cover-up” to shield the administration’s immigration enforcement tactics from public scrutiny.
The Incident: What the Records Show
According to the internal DHS reports, HSI agents were assisting local South Padre Island police with traffic control following a separate vehicle accident in the early morning hours.
- The Stop: Agents surrounded a blue Ford driven by Martinez after he allegedly “failed to follow instructions” and tried to drive through the scene.
- The Escalation: The report claims that after being ordered to exit the vehicle, Martinez “accelerated forward,” striking an HSI agent who ended up on the hood of the car.
- The Shooting: A second HSI agent fired multiple rounds through the driver-side window, striking Martinez. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital in Brownsville.
- The Status: Martinez was a U.S. citizen from San Antonio and an Amazon warehouse worker with no prior criminal record. His mother, Rachel Reyes, stated he was on the island to celebrate his 23rd birthday with his best friend.
Allegations of an “Organized Cover-Up”
The primary source of the current controversy is why the public is only learning of federal involvement now, 11 months later. While the shooting was reported by local media at the time, it was described as a generic “officer-involved shooting” without mentioning ICE or HSI.
| Leader | Statement / Action |
| U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) | Accused ICE and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) of an “organized cover-up” and called for a federal probe. |
| State Rep. Ray Lopez (D-San Antonio) | Invoked a new legislative rule to force a public hearing on the shooting, marking the first time the rule has been used. |
| State Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D-Austin) | Filed a legislative oversight inquiry to force the release of bodycam and dashcam footage, which has been withheld for a year. |
| Senator Roland Gutierrez (D-Uvalde) | Alleged that DPS lied about the incident and claimed federal agents are “targeting Latinos.” |
DHS Defense vs. Family Testimony
In a statement issued Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the shooting, maintaining that the agent fired “defensive shots” to protect himself and the public after Martinez “intentionally ran over” an officer.
However, attorneys for the Martinez family, Charles Stam and Alex Stamm, argue that eyewitness accounts contradict the official DHS narrative. They contend that Martinez was attempting to comply with instructions from local police—who were also directing traffic—when federal agents intervened and escalated the situation.
The “Third American Citizen”
The disclosure of Martinez’s death adds to a growing list of U.S. citizens killed during recent immigration enforcement actions. Critics have linked this case to the more recent high-profile shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota, arguing that a pattern of “unchecked power” is emerging within the administration’s deportation surge.
“Ruben’s family has been pursuing transparency and accountability for nearly a year now… It is critical we know why HSI was present at the scene of a traffic collision and why a federal officer shot and killed a U.S. citizen.” — Statement from Martinez Family Attorneys
Current Investigation Status
The Texas Rangers (a division of the Texas DPS) are currently leading the investigation into the shooting. On Saturday, a DPS spokesperson declined to provide further information, citing the “active” nature of the probe—a justification that lawmakers are now challenging given the 11-month delay in identifying the shooter’s agency.