NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — Market Basket confirmed on Friday that it has suspended employees at its New Bedford location as a result of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

One Market Basket in Massachusetts suspended 47 immigrant employees after conducting an audit of their job applications.

In a statement, Market Basket board of directors said the terminations came as a result of a recent internal investigation that found the two supervisors engaged in “insubordination, making false and derogatory remarks about the company and people associated with it, and inappropriate communications with colleagues.”

An immigrant rights group says 47 undocumented workers were suspended from New Bedford Market Basket stores this week, leaving families scrambling as the company awaits updated paperwork.

According to the Market Basket Board of Directors, both Schmidt and Gordon were fired for making false and derogatory remarks about the company and people associated with it, and inappropriate communications with colleagues.

Market Basket fired the executives, Joe Schmidt and Tom Gordon, claiming they worked to spark a widespread work disruption to help protect chief executive Arthur T. Demoulas.

NBC10 Boston has launched a new podcast in partnership with the Boston Business Journal that’s all about Market Basket and the ongoing power struggle at the top of the New England supermarket chain. Food Feud: Market Basket explores long-standing family ...