In 2025, Ruben Ray Martinez, a 23-year-old unarmed U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Texas, raising critical questions about transparency and accountability within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Martinez’s mother has publicly shared her frustration over the handling of the case, which she says remains shrouded in secrecy despite demands for clarity.
Martinez was reportedly driving with a friend in South Padre Island to celebrate his birthday when law enforcement, including ICE agents, arrived at the scene of a traffic accident. According to video evidence released nearly a year after the incident and eyewitness accounts, Martinez attempted to comply with conflicting directions from officers but was shot multiple times at close range through the car’s open driver-side window by ICE agent Jack Stevens. Martinez’s companion, Joshua Orta, said that Martinez’s last words were “I’m sorry.” Toxicology reports indicated the presence of alcohol in Martinez’s system, though this did not justify the use of lethal force, according to his family.
The shooting prompted an investigation by the Texas Rangers, and in February, a grand jury declined to indict Agent Stevens. ICE representatives stated that Martinez had struck an agent with his vehicle and that Stevens fired in self-defense to protect himself and his colleagues. ICE has maintained that the shooting was thoroughly examined by an independent body and that Stevens was cleared of wrongdoing. However, the full details of the evidence reviewed by the grand jury have not been made public, fueling calls for greater transparency.
Martinez’s mother viewed the confirmation hearing of Markwayne Mullin as Secretary of Homeland Security—he took office earlier this year—with hope that it would bring renewed commitment to accountability in immigration enforcement. She expressed deep disappointment over what she characterized as a lack of acknowledgment or meaningful response to her son’s death under Mullin’s leadership, more than three months into his tenure.
She advocates for stronger safeguards within ICE, including mandatory body camera use, clearer rules governing the interaction of federal agents with local law enforcement, stricter enforcement of use-of-force policies, and the temporary removal of agents from field duty following deadly shootings while investigations are ongoing.
The family’s calls for transparency underscore broader concerns about how federal immigration enforcement agencies handle lethal force incidents involving U.S. citizens. Critics argue that withholding information and resisting public accountability erode public trust and hinder efforts to ensure responsible policing. The family’s experience highlights the ongoing debate over balancing law enforcement authority with the public’s right to full disclosure in cases involving the loss of life.