‘Roll’ call of shame

Qns. bakery to staff: Prove you’re not illegal immigs

A QUEENS bakery that says it’s under a Department of Homeland Security audit told 30 employees to produce valid working papers or risk being fired, the Daily News has learned.

Tom Cat Bakery in Long Island City allegedly sent the letters March 15 to the immigrant workers, warning them Homeland Security determined their paperwork was out of date.

Workers demonstrating at the bakery Wednesday said a Tom Cat boss told them they must produce proof they are in the country legally or be fired within 10 days with no severance.

“I was surprised,” said Hector Solis, 45, who has worked at Tom Cat for 12½ years. “I never thought that was going to happen.”

The bakery’s letters blamed the feds. “It was brought to our attention that documents you provided at the time of hiring in form I-9, does not currently authorize you to work in the United States,” the letter read.

“You have 10 business days to provide us with documentation . . . (or) you are considered by the Homeland Security Investigations to be unauthorized to work in the United States,” it concluded.

Daniel Gross, director of Brandworkers, a nonprofit organization that advocates for food workers, said the mostly immigrant employees were confused and angered.

“We’ve tried to ask the company what role DHS played in what’s happening, but we have no answers,” Gross said.

An I-9 audit requires employers to identify their workers and prove they’re eligible to work in the country. Companies that fail to fill out the audit can be hit with fines. Homeland Security can also notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents about the undocumented workers.

Tom Cat Bakery did not respond to multiple calls and emails for comment. The commercial bakery supplies artisan breads to some 900 customers, according to its website.

Calls and emails to ICE and Homeland Security also were not returned.

Solis and other Tom Cat workers declined to discuss their immigration status at the demonstration they held with community leaders and immigrant rights advocates outside the bakery .

Solis came to America from Mexico City more than 20 years ago and supports his wife and two children living in Brooklyn as well as his mother in Mexico. He works the night shift baking bread. “I’ve worked hard for them for many years,” he said.

Tom Cat worker Henry Rivera, from Honduras, said he was not going to be scared into silence. “We are organizing not just for Tom Cat workers but for workers in New York and the whole nation to encourage them to . . . fight for justice,” he said.