A Texas grand jury declined to indict a federal immigration agent in the fatal shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez, a U.S. citizen, during a March 2025 traffic stop on South Padre Island. Prosecutors stated the panel reviewed the case but took no action. The shooting, which only became public last week via media reports, involved Martinez allegedly running over an agent, prompting defensive gunfire.

However, a passenger, Joshua Orta, who died in a crash last weekend, disputed the official account in a draft affidavit, claiming the vehicle was slow-moving and shots were fired without warning. The lack of indictment follows a pattern of federal officer-involved shootings since a nationwide immigration crackdown began under President Trump. This outcome may fuel ongoing debates about police accountability and use-of-force policies in federal law enforcement.