Summary
A U.S. senator has called for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after a federal immigration agent fatally shot Ruben Ray Martinez, a U.S. citizen, in Texas. The shooting, involving an ICE agent, happened in March 2025 but was only recently made public. The incident has sparked demands for transparency and accountability from lawmakers and the public.
Key Facts
- Senator Chris Van Hollen is asking for the impeachment of Kristi Noem after a fatal shooting involving a federal immigration agent.
- Ruben Ray Martinez was shot and killed by an ICE agent in South Padre Island, Texas, in March 2025.
- The involvement of federal agents in the shooting was not disclosed to the public for nearly a year.
- Internal ICE records revealing this were obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
- The Department of Homeland Security stated the shooting occurred during a traffic incident involving a driver hitting another federal agent.
- This case is believed to be the first time a federal immigration agent has fatally shot a U.S. citizen in the Trump administration.
- There were already calls to impeach Noem due to alleged constitutional violations before this incident became public.
- Prediction markets briefly increased the likelihood of Noem being impeached after the news broke but later decreased.
