February 21, 2026, 4:40 p.mFebruary 21, 2026, 4:40 p.m
The operations of the US immigration agency ICE are making headlines around the world. Especially the fatal shots at the two US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti in the state of Minnesota caused consternation. As the New York Times reported, these were not the first fatal operations. An American was said to have been shot by an ICE agent months ago.
An ICE agent in the US state of California.Image: keystone
The man killed was 23-year-old Ruben Ray Martinez. He was traveling in a car on the night of March 15, 2025 when he came across a police stop on the island of South Padre in the state of Texas. He is said to have initially resisted the officers’ instructions before braking and bringing his car to a stop. According to the report, officers then surrounded the car and asked Martinez to get out.
The situation then escalated, as documents from ICE show: Martinez is said to have suddenly accelerated his car and hit an officer, who is said to have landed on the roof of the car. Another officer then fired several shots through the windshield. Martinez was hit and subsequently taken to a hospital, where he died.
The incident soon made the rounds in local media. However, it remained unclear for a long time which authorities were involved. Just brought this week Newsweek ICE linked to the shooting. Documents made it clear that the agency was involved in the Martinez case, even if his name was not explicitly mentioned. An attorney for the family also confirmed that the victim named in the ICE report was Martinez.
Authorities and family contradict each other
There are currently different accounts of the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting. The US Department of Homeland Security argues that the officer fired the shots in self-defense. He did it to “protect himself, his colleagues and the public” after the driver “run over” another officer.
Lawyers for the family dispute ICE’s account. There are various eyewitness reports that are supposed to show a different picture of the situation. They are now calling on the New York Times to investigate the case. “What the authorities are saying now is different from what they told the family, which makes things worse,” said a lawyer. The parents, meanwhile, describe Martinez as a “good boy” with no criminal past.
In contrast to the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, there is currently no public video footage of the fatal shooting in the Ruben Ray Martinez case. The officer who was injured in the incident is now believed to have left the hospital. He is said to have suffered injuries to his knee.
Even almost a year after Martinez’s death, the case is not closed. The Texas Rangers are currently investigating the incident. It is an agency that investigates firearm use by law enforcement officers and oversees border security for the Texas Department of Public Safety. The investigation is ongoing, a spokeswoman told the New York Times. She does not reveal any further details. (dab)