A man living in San Benito, Texas learned that he was an undocumented immigrant after being responsible for the deportation of thousands of people, CNN reported.

At the age of 49, Raul Rodriguez had been working for the US government at the border for almost two decades. As an employee for the US Customs and Border Protection, Rodriguez says he helped deport thousands of undocumented immigrants. After dedicating his life to CBP and building relationships with local law enforcement, he eventually found himself on the other end of the spectrum.

In April of 2018, while filing a visa application for his brother, it was discovered that Rodriguez had been living in the United States illegally for the majority of his life. Originally born in Mexico, the birth certificate he had been using was fraudulent. Once confronted, Rodriguez’ father confessed that they were never US citizens.

After the discovery Rodriguez’ entire life began to change. First, he lost his job. Then, his sense of identity.

“Anything that I ever did revolved around law enforcement. I lost everything. . . That’s who I thought I was. That was my identity,” he explained. “They take that idea from you, you’re back at square one.”

Even the friends he made in law enforcement, as well as those he served with in the US Navy, turned their backs on him. When spotted in public, people he knew for years refused to acknowledge him. “They abandoned me because they thought I was illegal,” he says.

Nearly five years later, and Rodriguez continues to fight to stay within the country. If deported, he’d leave behind a wife and his 4 children.

“All I was asking was, just treat me like everyone else. I served this country so many years. I think I deserve something- at least the chance to stay in it,” he says.