UPDATED 1:10 p.m.

An Oregon DMV worker has sparked an international firestorm — as well as an investigation from her employer — amid accusations that she advocated for shooting migrants arriving at the U.S. border.

Thousands of people are calling on the Oregon Department of Transportation to fire Lori McAllen, who was placed on leave Thursday, the agency said.

Her alleged remarks surfaced on Facebook as the backlash against the Trump administration's policy of separating migrant children from their parents reached a fevered pitch this week.

"I personally think they should shoot them all at the border and call it good," McAllen purportedly wrote, according to screenshots of the post circulated by hundreds of people on Twitter. "It'll save us hard working AMERICAN'S billions of dollars on our taxes!! ;)"

The transportation department didn't name McAllen in a tweet announcing the leave, which is in place while the agency investigates.

An employee linked to an offensive Facebook post is on leave while we investigate. We take this matter very seriously and very personally. The comment doesn't reflect our agency values and is disturbing and hurtful. Thank you for your patience as we complete the investigation. — Oregon DOT (@OregonDOT) June 21, 2018

McAllen, a Linn County resident, currently earns $2,883 a month as an full-time DMV employee, a position she's held for less than a year, the agency said. Screen captured photos from her Facebook page, since deleted, show her wearing an ODOT badge in an office setting.

We're aware of a post that has been rapidly circulating through social channels espousing views offensive & abhorrent to the values of our agency. There is an active investigation into the matter. Thank you to those who have shared your concerns and we take this matter seriously — Oregon DOT (@OregonDOT) June 20, 2018

The Oregon Department of Transportation called the remarks "offensive & abhorrent to the values of our agency," in a statement published Wednesday to Twitter. The agency's human resources department is now conducting an investigation into the Facebook post.

Dave Thompson, a transportation spokesman, said his department has received hundreds of phone calls from around the country in the last 24 hours about the post. The agency has also fielded thousands of angry comments online from people around the world, he said.

"This is as viral as anything I've ever seen," he said.

McAllen could not be reached for comment.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh

skavanaugh@oregonian.com

503-294-7632 II @shanedkavanaugh