In late April, LeadingAge urged Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to take urgent action to address the harmful effects of recent immigration policy changes on the long-term care workforce.
LeadingAge’s April 30 letter to Secretary Noem outlines concerns about DHS actions affecting individuals working legally in the United States under two temporary immigration statuses—Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and the categorical parole programs for nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV)—both of which confer authorization that many LeadingAge members rely on in hiring.
Related to TPS, Secretary Noem terminated the 2023 designation for Venezuela effective April 7, 2025. As a result, individuals granted TPS under this designation would lose their status on that date, (although that has since been temporarily blocked by court order). It is estimated that 504,000 Venezuelans hold TPS, with roughly half falling under the 2023 designation.
A similar rollback is underway for Haitian nationals. Secretary Noem shortened the TPS designation period for Haiti, moving its expiration from February 2026 to August 3, 2025—six months earlier than the timeline previously set by the previous administration. Approximately 260,000 Haitian nationals hold TPS. A decision is still pending on whether DHS will extend or terminate this designation, though termination is widely anticipated.
In addition, on March 25, DHS announced the termination of the CHNV parole programs. Parole for individuals from these countries would have ended on April 24, 2025, as a result. However, a federal court has since temporarily blocked the termination.
LeadingAge emphasized that these policy shifts pose a direct threat to the already fragile long-term care workforce. “Your agency’s decisions … have created immediate uncertainty and concern for employers and workers alike,” association president and CEO Katie Smith Sloan said. Foreign-born workers with lawful immigration status—including TPS holders and CHNV parolees—play a vital role in delivering consistent, quality care to older adults.
The impact of DHS’ actions is immediate, said Sloan in a press release. “… without these statuses and associated employment authorization, parolees and TPS holders will immediately lose their ability to legally work,” she said. “Many of our members will lose deeply valued, experienced staff at a time when replacement workers are exceedingly difficult to find.”
The letter outlines four key recommendations:
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Allow workers paroled under the CHNV program to remain for the duration of their authorized parole period.
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Reinstate previously scheduled TPS expiration dates for Haiti and Venezuela.
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Extend TPS designations beyond their current end dates.
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Work with stakeholders, including LeadingAge and lawmakers, to explore permanent immigration pathways.
LeadingAge concluded the letter by reaffirming its commitment to being a resource and partner to DHS in identifying practical, compassionate solutions that preserve protections for essential workers and ensure the well-being of the older adults they serve.
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