"I Was an Illegal Immigrant"… US Official's 'Secret of Birth'

In Charge of Deporting Illegal Immigrants at the Border for Decades
Turns Out Father Forged Birth Certificate... Born in Mexico

A former public official who worked at the U.S. border and was in charge of deporting illegal immigrants for a long time was discovered to be an illegal immigrant with a forged birth certificate after 50 years. He narrowly escaped the threat of deportation.

US CNN reported on the 26th (local time) the story of Raul Rodriguez (54), who lives in Texas. He worked for nearly 20 years at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), expelling thousands of illegal immigrants from American soil. Before working at the CBP and its predecessor, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Rodriguez served as a soldier in the U.S. Navy. He took great pride in working for his homeland, the United States, and never doubted for a moment that he was American.

Raul Rodriguez (54), who became an undocumented immigrant overnight due to a forged birth certificate he was unaware of while working as a U.S. government official.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

However, Rodriguez's identity crisis came in April 2018 when he was 49 years old. Federal investigators presented him with a birth certificate showing he was born in Mexico. At that point, his father revealed a long-hidden secret about his birth: Rodriguez was born in Mexico, not the United States, and his U.S. birth certificate was fake.

Fired from job... even acquaintances turned their backs

Rodriguez's life fell into ruin overnight. He went from being "the one who deports" to "the one who must be deported." During the investigation, he was placed on leave, but he was ultimately fired in 2019. The CBP notified Rodriguez that he could no longer work there because he was not a U.S. citizen. Since then, Rodriguez has been unable to work, and the disability benefits he receives monthly due to a head injury sustained during his Navy service are his only income.

Although he once served overseas, he is now confined to his home, unable to go outside due to the risk of deportation. Rodriguez's wife, Anita, lamented, "He traveled around the world for America, but now he can't even step outside the backyard."

Rodriguez's suffering did not end there. Colleagues he met at the CBP, as well as friends, cut off contact, and even neighbors who once invited him to dinner and were close to him turned their backs. Rodriguez said, "People think I'm 'illegal' and abandoned me." Some people even hurled harsh words at him, saying things like, "This is the price you pay for turning your back on people in the same situation."

Deportation cancellation approved, waiting

The person who reached out to help the isolated Rodriguez was a volunteer he had never met. Diane Vega, working at the "Patriot Repatriation Organization" in El Paso, Texas, which helps deported veterans return to the U.S., heard Rodriguez's story. Vega said, "To think someone who was believed to be born in the U.S., raised in the U.S., and who served in the U.S. military and government suddenly hears 'You are not American' is a completely different matter," and she stepped forward to help Rodriguez. Vega and her organization informed Texas state legislators about Rodriguez's case and helped him register with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to receive medical services.

There was also hopeful news. In November last year, Rodriguez appeared in court to explain his situation, and the court announced plans to approve the cancellation of his deportation. Cancellation of deportation is the first step toward obtaining a green card. However, green card issuance in such cases is limited to 4,000 per year, so it may take Rodriguez several years or more to obtain permanent residency.

Currently, Rodriguez checks the immigration court website daily as part of his routine. He said, "I have served this country for a long time," and added, "I believe I deserve something. At least the chance to stay in this country..."