For Border Patrol officials, it could scarcely have been more embarrassing.
One of their own was an illegal immigrant.
And, investigators say, he was using his government-issued truck to smuggle other illegal immigrants into the United States.
How could this happen? How could the government agency charged with guarding the nation's borders hire someone in the country illegally? And could it happen again?
Border Patrol officials said this month that they hired Oscar Antonio Ortiz in 2002 even though a background check flagged a problem in his application, he admitted using drugs and had been arrested on suspicion of smuggling.
They said they've revised their hiring process as a result of his Aug. 4 arrest to ensure no foreigners are mistakenly hired. (Only U.S. citizens may work as Border Patrol agents.)
Officials also ran checks on every worker within Customs and Border Protection, part of the Department of Homeland Security, looking for other illegal immigrants.