Congress Must Investigate the Killing of Ruben Ray Martinez

Nearly a year after Homeland Security agents shot and killed Ruben Ray Martinez in South Padre Island, the public is only now learning what happened — because DHS kept key details secret for eight months.

Immigration officers claim Martinez drove into agents before they opened fire. But reports show agents had surrounded his car and shot him multiple times, and the number of shots has still not been publicly disclosed. Martinez was a U.S. citizen. His family — and the American people — were left in the dark while DHS withheld records and refused transparency.

This follows a disturbing pattern. In other recent fatal encounters, including the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, immigration agents also claimed individuals drove at officers. Each case has raised urgent questions about the use of force, accountability, and whether official narratives match the facts. Now, as Trump’s mass deportation machine accelerates nationwide, federal immigration agents are operating with sweeping power and too little public oversight.

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro has called for a full investigation, including why DHS concealed information about Martinez’s killing for months. He is right. When federal agencies use lethal force — especially against U.S. citizens — Congress has a duty to act.

If DHS can hide a fatal shooting for nearly a year without consequences, it sets a dangerous precedent for unchecked power. 

Sign this petition to demand accountability, transparency, and justice for Ruben Ray Martinez — and to make clear that no federal agency is above the law.