The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has told Newsweek that a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent fired “defensive shots” at a driver after he “intentionally ran over” another federal agent.
Immigration agents shot and killed Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, on March 15, 2025, in South Padre Island, Texas, but the involvement of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) HSI unit was not publicly disclosed at the time.
New details later emerged through internal ICE records obtained by watchdog American Oversight via a Freedom of Information Act request and reviewed by Newsweek.
In a statement to Newsweek, DHS said HSI agents were assisting the South Padre Island Police Department following a major accident.
“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,” a spokesperson for the agency said.
“The driver was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The agent who was ran over sustained a knee injury and was taken to the hospital.” Newsweek has been unable to independently corroborate the agency’s account.
DHS said the incident remains under investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Ranger Division and directed any additional questions to that agency.
“I can confirm that this is an ongoing investigation by the Texas Rangers, and no other information is available at this time,” Christopher Olivarez, spokesperson with the Texas Department of Public Safety, told Newsweek.
The FBI’s San Antonio field office is not involved in the probe, Special Agent Carmen Portillo told Newsweek.
It remains unclear whether body-worn camera footage exists or whether members of Congress were formally notified at the time of the shooting.
The case appears to be the first known instance of a federal agent fatally shooting a U.S. citizen under the Trump administration’s hard-line mass deportation policy.
South Pedro Island Police Department told Newsweek on Thursday that its officers were working the incident on March 15, 2025, but said the officer-involved shooting was referred to the Texas Rangers so it could not comment further.
In an obituary posted online last year, Martinez’s family said they were “deeply saddened and shocked by his sudden death.” The family described Martinez as “humble, kind, and adventurous.”
Newsweek has filed public‑records requests seeking incident reports, investigative findings and any video related to the deadly shooting.
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.
