Ruben Ray Martinez

Ruben Ray Martinez, a 23-year-old US citizen, was fatally shot by a Homeland Security Investigations agent, Jack Stevens, in South Padre Island, Texas, on March 15, 2025, during a traffic stop. The shooting was not publicly disclosed by the Department of Homeland Security until media outlets reported on it. The incident occurred during what appears to be a nationwide immigration crackdown. A grand jury rejected indictments against the agent. The passenger in Martinez's car at the time of the shooting, Joshua Orta, who gave a statement disputing the government's version of events, recently died in a car crash. Martinez's death is significant as it appears to be the first known instance of a US citizen being killed during the Trump administration's increased immigration enforcement efforts. The case raises questions about the use of force by federal immigration agents and the transparency of the Department of Homeland Security.