Key facts
- Experts predict that ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians could worsen the US caregiver shortage.
- Immigrants make up approximately 30% of caregivers in long-term settings in the US.
- Haitian immigrants represent 7% of the US caregiver workforce.
- The US is experiencing a rapid increase in its aging population, with over 20% expected to be 65 or older by 2030.
- The US House passed a Haiti TPS extension, but the Senate has yet to act.
Experts are raising concerns that potential changes to immigration policy under the Trump administration could exacerbate the existing caregiver shortage in the United States. A Supreme Court ruling in late June regarding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Syrians could lead to many individuals losing their ability to work in the U.S.
The U.S. is facing a significant increase in its aging population, with projections indicating that over 20% of the population will be 65 or older by 2030. However, the growth in the caregiver workforce has not kept pace, resulting in staffing shortages.
Immigrants play a crucial role in the U.S. caregiving sector, accounting for about 30% of workers in long-term care settings. Haitian immigrants are a notable part of this workforce, making up approximately 7% of caregivers, according to a report from LeadingAge. Lisa Sanders, a representative from LeadingAge, emphasized the significant contribution of foreign-born staff to the care of older adults and their families.
While the U.S. House of Representatives passed an extension for Haiti's TPS in April, the Senate has yet to take action. Nixon Pierre-Louis, a Haitian-American nurse, warned that the expiration of TPS would force many to stop working, leading to staffing gaps in facilities and negatively impacting patient care. He also noted that the duties would fall on already strained colleagues.
Care facilities and home health agencies are already struggling with recruitment and retention, facing challenges in finding, training, and keeping new staff. These providers, often reimbursed by Medicaid and Medicare Advantage, have limited flexibility to increase wages or benefits to compete with other sectors like hospitality and retail for workers. Sanders highlighted that losing dependable foreign-born staff is a significant blow to the aging services sector.
Recent data suggests that while the overall number of immigrant workers has remained stable despite immigration crackdowns, there has been a shift, with non-citizen immigrant workers leaving the caregiving workforce in larger numbers, while naturalized citizens have joined. Many Haitians on TPS status have resided in the U.S. for years and are anxious about their ability to maintain their livelihoods and support their families.
Surveys indicate a general public agreement that immigrants often fill jobs that Americans are reluctant to do. Pierre-Louis pointed out that while some white Americans may work in caregiving roles, these positions are often temporary until better-paying opportunities arise. He described caregiving as difficult work that requires compassion, especially when assisting patients with cognitive decline, and stressed the importance of these workers for those who depend on them.