San Antonio mayor urges congressional oversight after ICE agent fatally shot U.S. citizen Ruben Ray Martinez

Call for federal scrutiny follows delayed disclosure of ICE involvement in 2025 South Padre Island incident

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is calling on Congress to open an oversight investigation into the fatal shooting of a San Antonio man by a federal immigration agent during a traffic incident on South Padre Island in March 2025. The victim, Ruben Ray Martinez, was 23 and a U.S. citizen.

The mayor’s request comes amid questions from local and federal elected officials about why the involvement of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent did not become widely known until February 2026, nearly a year after Martinez’s death.

What is known about the shooting

Federal authorities have stated that agents were assisting local police with traffic control following a major crash when the encounter occurred on March 15, 2025. The Department of Homeland Security has said an agent fired what it described as defensive shots after Martinez allegedly drove into a Homeland Security Investigations special agent, leaving the agent on the hood of the vehicle and resulting in a knee injury.

Records released publicly this month provide additional details consistent with that account, including claims that Martinez appeared intoxicated, did not follow verbal commands, and that the shooting involved multiple rounds fired into the vehicle. A passenger in Martinez’s vehicle was also detained, based on the same set of released records.

Investigation status and competing oversight demands

The Texas Rangers are investigating the incident. Separately, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio has called for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate, arguing that the time lag in disclosing key details warrants federal review.

Jones, while emphasizing the need for transparency and timely answers for Martinez’s family and the public, urged Congress to conduct oversight rather than relying solely on executive-branch review. Her statement framed congressional involvement as a way to address concerns about accountability when federal agencies are investigating or defending their own personnel.

Why the case has drawn broader attention

The case has become a focal point in the ongoing debate over the scope of federal immigration enforcement activity, particularly when it intersects with public safety operations unrelated to immigration. The delayed confirmation of ICE involvement has also raised questions about interagency communication and public disclosure in cases involving use of force.

Jones and Castro have both argued that the community should receive prompt, clear explanations when a resident dies during an encounter involving federal law enforcement, regardless of where the incident occurs in Texas.

• The victim was identified as Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, a U.S. citizen from San Antonio.
• The incident occurred on South Padre Island on March 15, 2025.
• State investigators with the Texas Rangers are handling the case.
• City and federal officials are now pressing for additional federal oversight and review.

City leaders said the passage of time before ICE involvement became public has intensified demands for a fuller accounting of what happened and why key facts emerged when they did.