All articles tagged with #hsi
A Chinese organized crime syndicate exploited a vulnerability in Staples' internal support system to issue over 15,000 gift cards worth more than $5 million. The group subsequently spent these funds on electronics at major retailers, shipping the goods back to China. While the specific Staples breach was recently unsealed, the broader conspiracy involved over $100 million in fraudulent gift cards.
Federal agents raided Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C., home on October 12 as part of a criminal investigation into her citizenship paperwork. The action triggered strong backlash from Minnesota’s Somali community, who accused the Trump administration of targeting their group. While officials claim the probe is legal, critics view it as political intimidation ahead of the midterm elections.
Homeland Security Investigations agents failed to install a tracking device on a white Tesla in Milwaukee because the vehicle’s security protocols, likely Sentry Mode, prevented access. This occurred during a months-long surveillance of suspected drug trafficker Sam Stair. Despite the failed tracker installation, a task force arrested Stair and 17 others in May 2026 on drug charges. Stair has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial on bond.
Newly released ICE records show Ruben Ray Martinez, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by a Homeland Security Investigations agent in South Padre Island, Texas, during a late-night traffic stop in March 2025 after authorities say the driver intentionally struck an agent; the passenger was detained. Texas Rangers are leading the investigation, and DHS had not publicly disclosed the shooting for about 11 months. The incident, linked to a broader immigration crackdown, is the earliest of at least six deadly shootings by federal officers in that period.
Newly released ICE records via FOIA show Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, was shot and killed by a Homeland Security Investigations agent in South Padre Island, Texas, during a late-night traffic stop tied to an immigration enforcement operation. DHS says the driver intentionally struck an HSI agent, prompting another agent to fire; the passenger was taken into custody. The incident, not publicly disclosed for months, is part of a broader pattern with at least six fatal shootings by federal officers linked to immigration enforcement since Trump began the crackdown. The Texas Rangers continue their investigation, and Martinez’s mother says videos may contradict the official account.
The FBI is now leading the investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, with Homeland Security Investigations assisting—an unusual arrangement since HSI typically handles immigration-related crimes rather than officer-involved shootings. A government report says two Customs and Border Protection agents fired their weapons, and those involved are on administrative leave. It remains unclear whether Pretti reached for a firearm during the incident, and the case is developing with ongoing updates.
ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit is leading the federal probe into the fatal shooting of 37-year-old VA nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, with FBI assistance and a separate CBP internal review; the move is unusual for HSI, prompting questions from current and former officials, as investigators focus on scientific evidence while any prosecution would go through the DOJ.