Hundreds of workers at an apple-packaging company in central Washington are in jeopardy of losing their jobs after a federal immigration audit unveiled discrepancies in the payroll.

Workers at Crunch Pak, a company that makes sliced apple snacks, were notified Friday morning that they will lose their jobs on May 19 if they don't fix discrepancies in documents and prove that they are legally authorized to work in the United States.

After the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) audit began in August 2013, workers under review were reportedly notified the next month at the company, which employs about 900 people in Cashmere.

According to the Wenatchee World, company spokeswoman Amy Philpott did not specify the number of workers facing layoffs. However, Vicky Castro of East Wenatchee estimated that 90 percent of the people she works with received notifications.

"What the company wants is for every employee to have the chance to correct their information or amend their paperwork," Philpott said, according The Associated Press.

The I-9 audit grants employees 10 days to correct any discrepancies. However, the number of audits has grown expotentially under President Obama's administration. ICE promotes them to deter companies from hiring undocumented workers.

After receiving the notifications on Friday, around 50 workers organized a walkout in protest. Many of those who walked out had received the notices and said they had worked at Crunch Pak for a dozen years to support their families.

"They promised us when we started working here. They said, 'Help us build the company now, and we'll all share the benefits,'" Maria Rosas, an employee of 14 years. "I've been working five years without even a 5 cent pay increase, working day and night as long as 16-hour days. Fourteen years making apples and not a single time have I ever been asked for documents."

Workers also criticized the company for exploiting their lack of legal status to assign long hours with no paid vacation, wage increases or health benefits.

"All these years with the company only to find out they're throwing us out," longtime employee Maria Maldonado said.