Key facts
- At least seven people have been fatally shot by on-duty federal immigration agents during Donald Trump's second term.
- The incidents occurred between March 2025 and July 2026 in Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, and Maine.
- Victims include U.S. citizens and individuals without legal authorization, with disputed accounts of the circumstances surrounding the shootings.
- Some victims were involved in protests against immigration enforcement operations.
- Families of the deceased are calling for reform and accountability.
During Donald Trump's second term, on-duty federal immigration agents have fatally shot at least seven individuals across the United States. These incidents have led to grieving families, community anger, and demands for reform.
On March 15, 2025, Ruben Ray Martinez, a U.S. citizen celebrating his birthday, was shot by a DHS agent in South Padre Island, Texas. DHS stated Martinez accelerated and struck agents, but body-camera footage released later showed him driving slowly and did not clearly depict him hitting anyone. His family claims he was complying with orders.
In Chicago on September 12, 2025, Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, a Mexican cook living in the U.S. without authorization, was fatally shot by an ICE agent while the agent attempted to stop his vehicle. DHS cited Villegas' history of reckless driving, though the agent described his injuries as minor. Villegas had prior traffic citations.
Near Rio Grande City, Texas, on December 11, 2025, a CBP agent fatally shot a 31-year-old Mexican man during an attempted detention. A struggle reportedly lasted two minutes before the shooting. No video footage has emerged, and Reuters has requested the man's identity from CBP.
Renee Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and activist, was shot by an ICE agent on January 7, 2026, in Minneapolis. Witness videos showed Good speaking calmly to the agent before driving forward as the agent fired. Good had participated in protests against Operation Metro Surge.
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and nurse, was also fatally shot by two agents in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026. Pretti had been assisting a woman pepper-sprayed by agents during protests against Operation Metro Surge. Videos showed officers wrestling him to the ground before firing shots at close range.
On July 7, 2026, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 53-year-old Colombian man, was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Houston. ICE stated Salgado refused orders and attempted to run over an agent, but this account was disputed by witnesses. DHS later confirmed Salgado was not the target of the operation.
Just days later, on July 13, 2026, ICE agents in Biddeford, Maine, rammed the vehicle of Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero, a 23-year-old Colombian man, and fatally shot him. DHS stated the vehicle attempted to flee, but Duran's family and a local immigrant group confirmed he had legal authorization to live and work in the U.S. He was also not the intended target.