Ruben Ray Martinez

Ruben Ray Martinez, a 23-year-old US citizen, was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent in Texas in March 2025. This incident, which occurred during a late-night traffic encounter, was not publicly disclosed by the Department of Homeland Security at the time. Martinez's death is now newsworthy due to the recent release of records revealing the circumstances of the shooting. It is considered the earliest of at least six deadly shootings by federal officers since the start of a nationwide immigration crackdown. The death is also significant because it appears to be the first known instance of a US citizen being killed during the Trump administration's immigration policies. Further complicating the matter, Joshua Orta, a passenger in Martinez's car and a key witness who disputed the government's version of events, recently died in a car crash, raising questions about the investigation and circumstances surrounding both deaths.