Grand Jury Declines to Indict ICE Agent in Shooting Death of Ruben Ray Martinez

A grand jury has decided not to indict the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent involved in the fatal shooting of U.S. Citizen Ruben Ray Martinez during a traffic encounter in South Padre Island, Texas, in March 2025. The decision comes after a case that initially lacked public disclosure from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with details emerging through media reports and a Freedom of Information Act request .

The Shooting and Initial Reports

Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, was shot by an HSI agent on March 15, 2025, while assisting the South Padre Island Police Department (SPIPD) with traffic control near the site of a major vehicle accident . Initial reports from local media did not identify the involvement of HSI or disclose that a federal agent fired the shots . The incident gained wider attention after reporting by Newsweek and the Associated Press, based on internal ICE records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by American Oversight , .

Conflicting Accounts of the Incident

According to DHS, Martinez “intentionally ran over” an HSI special agent, prompting another agent to fire “defensive shots” to protect themselves and others . However, a draft affidavit from Joshua Orta, a passenger in the car with Martinez, presents a different account. Orta stated that Martinez did not hit an officer with the vehicle and that the car was “just crawling” when an agent fired into the driver’s side window without warning . Orta died in a car crash shortly before the grand jury decision.

ICE’s Internal Report

An ICE incident report details that agents were assisting local police when a blue Ford approached a controlled area. Agents instructed the driver to stop, and after initially not responding, the driver slowed and stopped. Agents then surrounded the vehicle and ordered the occupants to exit. According to the report, the driver then “accelerated forward” and struck an HSI special agent, leading to the shooting .

Family’s Response and Calls for Transparency

Martinez’s family, who identify as proud Americans and supporters of law enforcement, expressed their desire for honesty and transparency regarding the shooting . They are calling on the Texas Department of Public Safety to release the findings of its investigation so they can assess the accuracy of ICE’s account . The attorneys representing the family noted that the grand jury proceedings are private, and they are unaware of the evidence presented to the jurors .

Broader Context

The shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez is among at least six deadly shootings involving federal officers since a nationwide immigration crackdown began during President Donald Trump’s second term . The case has also prompted a Texas state lawmaker to invoke a latest state legislative rule to force a public hearing into the shooting, raising questions about transparency and oversight of immigration enforcement .