Texas Lawmaker Demands Details on Fatal ICE Shooting on South Padre Island

The only witness to the shooting was killed in a separate car crash, raising more questions about the incident.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A South Texas lawmaker is demanding information from the Texas Department of Public Safety regarding the 2025 fatal shooting of a 23-year-old San Antonio man by federal immigration agents on South Padre Island. The only witness in the car during the shooting was killed in a violent crash this weekend, according to several reports.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the use of force by federal immigration agents and the lack of transparency around such incidents, especially when the only witness has died under mysterious circumstances.

The details

Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat who represents San Antonio, sent an open records request to DPS for information on the shooting death of Ruben Ray Martinez, who died last March at a traffic stop during Spring Break on South Padre Island. A DHS spokesperson confirmed that special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were involved in the shooting, claiming it was in self-defense after an agent was struck by the car. However, a lawyer for Martinez's family disputes this account, saying Martinez was trying to comply with local law enforcement instructions when he was shot.

  • The fatal shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez occurred on March 15, 2025.
  • The only witness, Joshua Orta, died in a traffic accident in San Antonio this past weekend.

The players

Roland Gutierrez

A Texas state senator representing San Antonio who is demanding information on the shooting.

Ruben Ray Martinez

A 23-year-old San Antonio man who was fatally shot by ICE agents on South Padre Island in 2025.

Joshua Orta

The 25-year-old who was the only other person in the vehicle driven by Martinez at the time of his death, and who was prepared to dispute the government's version of events before dying in a separate car crash.

Charles Stam

The lawyer representing Martinez's family, who says the family wants a full and fair investigation into why a federal officer shot and killed a U.S. citizen.

Rachel Reyes

The mother of Ruben Ray Martinez, who says the family has been pursuing transparency and accountability for nearly a year and hopes the attention on her son's death will help bring justice.

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What they’re saying

“Ruben'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. It is critical that there is a full and fair investigation into why HSI was present at the scene of a traffic collision and why a federal officer shot and killed a U.S. citizen as he was trying to comply with instructions from the local law enforcement officers directing traffic.”

— Charles Stam, Lawyer for Martinez family

“Since Ruben's death a year ago, all we have wanted is justice for him and we have struggled with the silence surrounding his killing. Now, the country is in crisis – and, terribly, heartbreakingly, other families are enduring what we have. It's my hope that attention being raised now into Ruben's death will help bring the justice we want for him and the answers we haven't had.”

— Rachel Reyes, Mother of Ruben Ray Martinez

“Long before Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed by ICE, there was Ruben Ray Martinez. For a year, the Texas Department of Public Safety covered up the shooting death of this young man at the hands of an ICE agent. The cruelty that is being exerted on U.S. citizens and immigrants alike is purely un-American. There must be a full account of the Texas Department of Public Safety's involvement in immigration enforcement. We must know what the federal government is telling them to do and what they are doing. We cannot have cops running wild harassing and killing people because of their political leanings or the color of their skin.”

— Roland Gutierrez, Texas State Senator

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the release of additional information from the Texas Department of Public Safety regarding the shooting.

The takeaway

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the use of force by federal immigration agents and the lack of transparency around such incidents, especially when key witnesses have died under suspicious circumstances. It raises questions about the collaboration between state and federal law enforcement agencies in immigration enforcement and the need for greater accountability and oversight.