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By Sam Stevenson, Billal Rahman, and Dan Gooding
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Lawmakers are demanding answers after Newsweek revealed that a U.S. citizen was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Texas, with federal involvement not publicly disclosed for months.
Newsweek reached out, in the early hours of Saturday morning ET, to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) via email for comment regarding claims made in these latest interventions.
DHS confirmed to Newsweek on Friday that a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent fired "defensive shots" at a driver after he "intentionally ran over" another federal agent.
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HSI is the primary investigative arm of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), responsible for federal criminal investigations.
DHS said the incident remains under investigation by the Texas DPS’s Ranger Division.
The Texas DPS confirmed to Newsweek on Friday that its Rangers division was still actively investigating the shooting.
Why It Matters
The fatal shooting of 23‑year‑old Ruben Ray Martinez drew national attention only after Newsweek obtained internal records confirming an ICE agent fired the shots in March 2025.
The delay in disclosure has intensified questions about transparency and oversight when federal agents use deadly force.
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What To Know
Pressure is building on federal and state authorities following Newsweek’s reporting that Martinez, a U.S. citizen from San Antonio, was shot and killed on South Padre Island while federal agents were assisting local police with traffic control.
Although the incident was reported locally at the time, it was not made clear that federal immigration agents were involved.
That detail emerged months later through internal records released under the Freedom of Information Act and reviewed by Newsweek.
DHS has since confirmed that an ICE agent with Homeland Security Investigations fired the fatal shots during the encounter.
Joaquin Castro, a Democratic congressman from Texas, said he was "calling for a full investigation into this shooting."
Roland Gutierrez, a Democratic Texas state senator, has vowed to pursue “justice and accountability.”
And Greg Casar, a Democratic U.S. representative from Texas, has said “Americans deserve immediate answers and an independent investigation.”
While the above lawmakers have used language such as “cover-up,” there is currently no public evidence that ICE or Texas authorities deliberately concealed Martinez’s death.
What is known is that the role of federal immigration agents was not publicly disclosed for months, a delay that has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and civil rights advocates.
According to DHS, the shooting occurred after Martinez allegedly struck an agent with his vehicle, prompting another agent to fire what the department described as defensive shots.
No body‑worn camera or dashcam footage has been publicly released, and investigators have not completed their review.
As the scope of the incident became clearer, Democratic lawmakers in Texas began calling for independent investigations and greater transparency, arguing that the delayed disclosure undermined public trust even as officials maintain that inquiries are ongoing.
Read more:
- DHS Confirms Third US Citizen Killing After Newsweek Investigation
- Who Was Ruben Ray Martinez? US Citizen Fatally Shot by ICE Agent
- Read Full DHS‑ICE Report on Fatal Shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez
- Mother of US Citizen Killed by DHS Speaks Out
- Newsom Alarmed by Year-Long Delay Disclosing Fatal ICE Shooting
- Former ICE Director Breaks Down Ruben Ray Martinez’s Death Report
What People Are Saying
Joaquin Castro, a Democratic congressman from Texas, wrote on X in response to Newsweek’s reporting: “An ICE agent shot and killed Ruben Ray Martinez, a US citizen and San Antonio resident, in March 2025.
“Then ICE and the Texas Department of Public Safety covered it up. He was 23 years old. I am calling for a full investigation into this shooting, including why there was an 8‑month cover-up.”
Roland Gutierrez, a Democratic Texas state senator, posted a video on X saying: “We just found out ICE agents shot and killed 23‑year‑old Ruben Ray Martinez a year ago. Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) covered it up.
“DPS is lying when they say they aren’t targeting Latinos, and I’m going to make sure we have justice and accountability.”
Greg Casar, a Democratic U.S. representative from Texas, wrote on X: “Last March, a 23-year-old named Ruben Ray Martinez was shot and killed by an ICE agent. He was a U.S. citizen from San Antonio.
“ICE did not disclose for 8 months that they were the ones who shot Martinez. Americans deserve immediate answers and an independent investigation of the shooting.”
Gina Hinojosa, a Democratic Texas state representative, said she has sought records related to the case: “Today I filed a Public Information Act and a legislative oversight inquiry for the release of body camera and dashcam footage related to the fatal shooting of American citizen, Ruben Ray Martinez, by ICE agents last March.”
Charles M. Stam and Alex Stamm, attorneys for the family of Ruben Ray Martinez, told Newsweek via email: “Ruben’s family has been pursuing transparency and accountability for nearly a year now and will continue to do so for as long as it takes.
“It is critical that there is a full and fair investigation into why HSI was present at the scene of a traffic collision and why a federal officer shot and killed a U.S. citizen as he was trying to comply with instructions from the local law enforcement officers directing traffic.”
Christopher Olivarez, spokesperson with the Texas DPS, told Newsweek in an earlier statement: "I can confirm that this is an ongoing investigation by the Texas Rangers, and no other information is available at this time."
A DHS spokesperson told Newsweek on Friday: “A driver of a blue Ford intentionally ran over a Homeland Security Investigation special agent resulting in him being on the hood of the vehicle.
“Upon witnessing this, another agent fired defensive shots to protect himself, his fellow agents, and the general public.
"The driver was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The agent who was run over sustained a knee injury and was taken to the hospital."
What Happens Next
The Texas Rangers investigation remains ongoing, according to state officials, as lawmakers continue pressing for the release of additional records.
Any further disclosures or findings could shape whether independent reviews or legislative action follow.
If you witnessed or have dashcam footage of the incident on March 15, 2025, and would like to share this information with Newsweek, you can contact the authors of this article.
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