Former ICE Director Raises Questions About Ruben Ray Martinez Shooting

A retired ICE official reviewed the case and said the delayed disclosure of the agency's involvement raises concerns.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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A former senior official at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reviewed investigative materials related to the fatal shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, by federal immigration agents on March 15, 2025 in South Padre Island, Texas. The former ICE director, Darius Reeves, said he has "concerns" that the Trump administration withheld information about ICE's involvement in the incident for nearly a year.

Why it matters

The delayed disclosure of ICE's role in the shooting has prompted scrutiny over transparency, though the former ICE official cautioned against assuming misconduct without more information. The case highlights ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement and the need for thorough, independent investigations of agent-involved shootings.

The details

According to the report, federal immigration agents from ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit were assisting the South Padre Island Police Department following a major accident when the shooting occurred. DHS confirmed that an HSI agent fired "defensive shots" after the driver, Ruben Ray Martinez, allegedly "ran over" another federal agent. However, Newsweek was unable to independently corroborate the agency's account.

  • The shooting occurred on March 15, 2025.
  • ICE's involvement was not publicly disclosed for nearly a year after the incident.

The players

Darius Reeves

A former field office director for ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Baltimore who retired in 2025.

Ruben Ray Martinez

A 23-year-old man who was fatally shot by federal immigration agents in South Padre Island, Texas on March 15, 2025.

Rachel Reyes

The mother of Ruben Ray Martinez, who said the family has "struggled with the silence surrounding his killing" and hopes the attention will bring justice and answers.

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What they’re saying

“From what was articulated in that report... they had given clear, distinct commands, and for whatever reason, this individual proceeded to ignore those commands and accelerated into the officer.”

— Darius Reeves, Former ICE Field Office Director (Newsweek)

“That is a concern, but once again, we have to figure out what that delay was. Was it a delay based upon ICE, or was it a delay based upon all the other investigative pieces that would have been in place in this particular matter?”

— Darius Reeves, Former ICE Field Office Director (Newsweek)

“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 (Newsweek)

What’s next

The Texas Department of Public Safety's Ranger Division is continuing to investigate the incident, and any further inquiries should be directed to that agency.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions and lack of transparency surrounding immigration enforcement, as well as the need for thorough, independent investigations of agent-involved shootings to ensure accountability and justice for victims' families.