When Rachel Reyes learned about the recent deaths of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero at the hands of federal immigration agents, she had flashbacks to what happened to her son 16 months ago."It really breaks my heart for the families because I understand the nightmare they're going through," Reyes says.Her son, Ruben Ray Martinez, was fatally shot in March 2025 by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent during a traffic stop — like in the cases of Salgado Araujo and Durán Guerrero.Martinez was killed two months into President Trump's return to office and the start of his aggressive immigration crackdown.Since then, there have been 29 additional instances in which immigration agents shot at civilians — at least seven of which turned deadly, according to The Trace, a nonprofit journalism site focused on gun violence.
The AP reports at least 10 fatalities during Trump's second term.NPR reported on Martinez's death back in April — tracing his family's nearly year-long saga to obtain body camera footage and for the case to be presented to a state grand jury, which later declined to bring charges against the agent who opened fire.Reyes says it's been difficult to watch history repeat itself, especially since she's still seeking accountability."It's just really upsetting, the whole thing, because I know what it feels like, and it's incredibly frustrating to be treated like if your loved one's life doesn't matter," she says.
Reyes, who is from San Antonio, Texas, recently wrote about the need for greater transparency and accountability in ICE shootings in an op-ed for The New York Times .Martinez, a 23-year-old U.S.citizen, was fatally shot in the early hours of March 15, 2025 on South Padre Island, a resort destination in south Texas.
After a night spent celebrating his birthday, Martinez approached a busy intersection, where a car crash had taken place hours earlier.Officers from multiple agencies were on scene to help manage tra...