Texas Democrat Seeks Transparency on ICE Agent Shooting of U.S. Citizen

Rep. Joaquin Castro demands release of text messages, communications around Ruben Ray Martinez's death

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Representative Joaquin Castro, a Texas Democrat, is calling on the Department of Homeland Security and Texas state authorities to release all text messages, phone calls, and communications between officers involved in the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Ruben Ray Martinez by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent last March in South Padre Island. Castro accused federal and local agencies of participating in a "cover up" by failing to disclose key details about the incident for nearly a year.

Why it matters

Democrats in Congress have repeatedly accused the Department of Homeland Security of withholding information from lawmakers regarding immigration enforcement actions and the conduct of federal agents. Similar demands for transparency have followed other high-profile shootings by federal agents. The lack of details around Martinez's death until recently has fueled concerns that authorities failed to be fully transparent in their reporting of the incident.

The details

According to Newsweek's reporting, Martinez, 23, died in South Padre Island on March 15, 2025 after being involved in an officer-involved shooting. However, the ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent's involvement was not initially disclosed. An eyewitness account from Martinez's childhood friend Joshua Orta, who was in the car, contradicts the official narrative provided by authorities, claiming Martinez was driving slowly and trying to obey orders when federal agents approached and shot him.

  • Martinez died on March 15, 2025 in South Padre Island.
  • Orta, the eyewitness, died last weekend.

The players

Joaquin Castro

A Texas Democratic Representative who represents Martinez's home city of San Antonio and is calling for transparency around the incident.

Ruben Ray Martinez

A 23-year-old U.S. citizen who was fatally shot by an ICE agent in South Padre Island in March 2025.

Joshua Orta

Martinez's childhood friend who was a passenger in the car and provided an eyewitness account that contradicts the official narrative.

Kristi Noem

The Secretary of Homeland Security.

Freeman Martin

The Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

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What they’re saying

“For nearly a year, your agencies appeared to have participated in a cover up. Mr. Martinez's life was tragically cut short, and his family deserves a full and complete understanding of the events leading up to his death. Mr. Martinez should not have died, and your agencies must be fully transparent about the circumstances surrounding his death.”

— Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative

“The Martinez family and the public must know why this cover up was allowed to fester for nearly a year. We must know the truth without further delay.”

— Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative

“Ruben's family is devastated. They are proud Americans, strong supporters of law enforcement, and Trump voters. They believe there are honest and decent officers out there. They just want to be treated honestly and decently.”

— Charles M. Stam, Alex Stamm, and Butch Hayes, Attorneys representing Martinez's mother (Newsweek)

What’s next

Castro has sent his letter to the Department of Homeland Security and Texas Department of Public Safety, urging them to respond promptly and release all relevant information and communications around the incident.

The takeaway

This case highlights ongoing tensions between Congress and federal agencies over transparency and accountability, particularly when it comes to the actions of immigration enforcement officers. The lack of timely and complete information provided to the public and Martinez's family has fueled suspicions of a cover-up, underscoring the need for independent oversight and thorough investigations into use-of-force incidents involving federal agents.