Dozens of bakery workers in Queens are worried they could soon be out of a job, and possibly be forced out of the country, following an audit of their employer by the Department of Homeland Security. Borough Reporter Ruschell Boone has the story.

At breakfast before work, Henry Rivera is telling his wife and children not to worry if he loses his job at the Tom Cat Bakery.

The bakery gave Rivera and 30 co-workers letters, warning they will be fired if they cannot provide documentation showing they are legally allowed to work in the U.S.

"My world collapsed. I felt sad," Rivera said through a translator. "Especially, how will I be able to support my family?"

In the letter, the bakery said an ongoing audit by the Department of Homeland Security flagged the paperwork that Rivera submitted when he was hired.

The letter said his documents failed to prove that he had the legal status to work in the United States. It gave him 10 days to submit the proper authorization.

A rally was organized by the advocacy group Brandworkers for the 31 workers whose papers are being questioned.

Brandworkers says it doesn't know if the audit was routine, or a result of President Trump's crackdown on the undocumented. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined to comment, saying it "doesn’t confirm or deny the existence of ongoing investigations."

But Brandworkers wants the bakery to sponsor the employees so they can work here legally.

"If that's not possible, if Tom Cat won't allow them to stay there, next they want to receive severance pay for all the hard work they have done for the company," said Diana Marino, the lead organizer of Brandworkers.

Rivera would not discuss his immigration status, but said he has worked at Tom Cat for 11 years. 

Every morning, he makes the 90-minute trek from Richmond Hill to the artisan bakery in Long Island City where he is a bread packer.

He got the job shortly after arriving from Honduras in 2005.

"I came here for a better future for my family here and back home. The conditions are tough. Extreme poverty," Rivera said.

The company did not respond to NY1's repeated request for comment, but Rivera is weighing his next move. 

Rivera says if he gets let go from this job, he will try to find work in construction, but he doesn't plan to leave without a fight.

"I am worried about separation and deportation, but we can't walk in fear," he said.

The workers and their supporters are planning another rally for Saturday.