{"id":607337,"date":"2026-02-22T04:22:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-22T04:22:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/607337\/"},"modified":"2026-02-22T04:22:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T04:22:14","slug":"dhs-agent-killed-us-citizen-in-march-2025-records-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/607337\/","title":{"rendered":"DHS agent killed US citizen in March 2025, records show"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul data-testid=\"Summary\" class=\"summary-module__summary__QjADA\">\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">Martinez appears to be first known US citizen killed in Trump&#8217;s immigration crackdown<\/li>\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">Watchdog group highlights 400% spike in ICE use-of-force incidents<\/li>\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">DHS alleges Martinez intentionally ran over agent, prompting defensive shots<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Feb 21 (Reuters) &#8211; A federal immigration agent shot and killed a U.S. citizen in Texas in March 2025, months before the Trump administration began its deportation surge in Minnesota that led to the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, according to records released this week.<\/p>\n<p>Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, was killed by agents with the Department of Homeland Security, attorneys for Martinez&#8217;s family said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"promo-box\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__promo-box__hVl8h\"> Sign up  <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us\/dhs-agent-killed-us-citizen-march-2025-records-show-2026-02-21\/undefined?location=article-paragraph&amp;redirectUrl=%2Fworld%2Fus%2Fdhs-agent-killed-us-citizen-march-2025-records-show-2026-02-21%2F\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>A DHS agent fired multiple rounds at Martinez, who allegedly hit another DHS agent with his car as the agents assisted local police in South Padre Island, Texas, with traffic control following an accident on March 15, 2025, according to records obtained by American Oversight, a nonprofit watchdog group. The agents were conducting immigration enforcement, the records show.<\/p>\n<p>Martinez&#8217;s shooting appears to be the first known instance of a U.S. citizen being killed during U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/immigration\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">immigration<\/a> crackdown. Federal agents conducting immigration enforcement <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us\/evidence-contradicts-trump-immigration-officials-accounts-violent-encounters-2026-01-27\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">shot at least five people in January alone<\/a>, including Pretti and Good.FAMILY&#8217;S LAWYERS CALL FOR INVESTIGATION<\/p>\n<p>Martinez was trying to comply with instructions from local law enforcement when he was shot, Charles Stam and Alex Stamm, attorneys for Martinez&#8217;s family, said in a statement. They called for a &#8220;full and fair investigation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Ruben&#8217;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,&#8221; the two attorneys said.<\/p>\n<p>The mounting death toll has increased scrutiny of Trump&#8217;s immigration crackdown, driving a <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us\/us-senators-sharply-question-trump-officials-about-pretti-shooting-use-force-2026-02-12\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">backlash among lawmakers<\/a> and the public.The Trump administration <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us\/trump-set-expand-immigration-crackdown-2026-despite-brewing-backlash-2025-12-21\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">is dramatically ramping up immigration enforcement<\/a>, with $170 billion budgeted for immigration agencies through September 2029, a historic sum.<\/p>\n<p>Martinez, who was identified as a U.S. citizen in the redacted records, was taken to a hospital in nearby Brownsville, Texas, where he was later pronounced dead. The agent who was hit with a car went to the hospital for a knee injury and was later released, according to the report.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;These records paint a deeply troubling picture of the violent methods used by ICE,&#8221; Chioma Chukwu, the executive director of American Oversight, said in a statement. &#8220;In just the first months of this administration, ICE&#8217;s own data shows a dramatic spike of nearly 400% in use-of-force incidents &#8211; with people hospitalized, bystanders swept up in operations, and even the death of a U.S. citizen.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that Martinez &#8220;intentionally ran over&#8221; an agent with DHS&#8217; Homeland Security Investigations and another agent &#8220;fired defensive shots.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The nearly year-old incident is under investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety&#8217;s Ranger Division, a DHS spokesperson said. A spokesperson with the Texas DPS said the case is still an active investigation by the Texas Rangers, declining to comment further.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"SignOff\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__extra_small__8Buss body-module__full_width__kCIGb body-module__extra_small_body__Bfz20 sign-off-module__text__LQAMP\">Reporting by David Thomas; Editing by Rod Nickel and Paul Simao<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"Body\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__element__5eCce article-body-module__trust-badge__5mS3f\">Our Standards: <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thomsonreuters.com\/en\/about-us\/trust-principles.html\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__medium__2Rl30 text-module__small__sph8i link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reutersagency.com\/en\/licensereuterscontent\/?utm_medium=rcom-article-media&amp;utm_campaign=rcom-rcp-lead\" target=\"_blank\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"button-module__link__A3sD0 button-module__secondary__70gBu button-module__round__QDFgq button-module__w_auto__Sem-F\" data-testid=\"LicenceContentButton\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Purchase Licensing Rights<\/a><a data-testid=\"AuthorBioImageLink\" class=\"author-bio-module__author-image__jcaG3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/authors\/david-thomas\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" tabindex=\"-1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__extra_small__8Buss body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__extra_small_body__Bfz20 author-bio-module__description__9ynkB\">David Thomas reports on the business of law, including law firm strategy, hiring, mergers and litigation. He is based out of Chicago. He can be reached at d.thomas@thomsonreuters.com and on Twitter @DaveThomas5150.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Martinez appears to be first known US citizen killed in Trump&#8217;s immigration crackdown Watchdog group highlights 400% spike&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":607338,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5122],"tags":[5229,216147,218381,217902,217903,216141,216152,216164,216153,216154,115881,165856,232470,218386,261054,216149,405,403,5226,5225,5228,5227,216155,216156,165860,33106,217351,218387,232468,216145,218389,233958,67,586,132,5230,68,2969,233957,83854],"class_list":["post-607337","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york","tag-america","tag-amers","tag-civ","tag-clj","tag-crim","tag-cwp","tag-destocatpm","tag-destousdnm","tag-destoustpm","tag-destouswdm","tag-dli","tag-gen","tag-imm","tag-mpop","tag-murd","tag-namer","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-newyork","tag-newyorkcity","tag-ny","tag-nyc","tag-packageus-top-news","tag-packageworld-news","tag-pol","tag-potus","tag-pxp","tag-racr","tag-rulesimmigration","tag-secur","tag-soci","tag-topicworld-us-texas","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa","tag-usatx","tag-wash"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116112375622225619","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/607337","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=607337"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/607337\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/607338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=607337"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=607337"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=607337"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}