U.S. — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in late June that the Trump administration may remove the temporary protected status (TPS) of Haitians and Syrians in the U.S.

The U.S. House passed a Haiti TPS extension in April, but the U.S. Senate has not taken action on the extension. Lisa Sanders, Vice-President of Communications and Media Relations at LeadingAge, said, "Foreign-born staff are significant contributors to care and services our members provide, and that older adults and their families rely on." Sanders also stated, "Without staff, there is no care."

Immigrants comprise about 30% of caregivers in long-term settings in the U.S., with Haitian immigrants making up 7% of that workforce, according to a LeadingAge report. Nixon Pierre-Louis, a licensed practical nurse in Delaware, said, "There are certain jobs that I've only seen foreigners do."

Sanders said, "In aging services, a sector that has, for a number of reasons, long navigated workforce challenges, the loss of good workers is a significant blow." She added, "These are dependable, valued staff who are having to leave their employer because the government says they must go." Pierre-Louis stated, "That's going to leave the institution or the facility where you work short, and that's going to affect the resident or the client that you're taking care of." He continued, "The clients and the residents are also going to suffer because there is no one to take care of them, and that can also lead to illness and infection."

Pierre-Louis said, "You have to assist them with dignity." He added, "You do it with all your heart, because they need the help." He said, "If you don't do it, no one's going to do it for them." He stated, "I just want people to know that we are here to contribute to society." He said, "We are here to help." Pierre-Louis asked, "Why is it an America for them only, and it cannot be the America for all?"

Why It Matters

This ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court could impact the long-term care sector, which relies on immigrant workers. Immigrants, particularly Haitian immigrants, form a portion of the caregiver workforce in long-term settings. The potential removal of TPS for Haitians and Syrians could affect workforce challenges in a sector that is projected to face increased demand as more than 20% of the U.S. population is expected to be 65 or older by 2030.