By Angela Bovill

January 21, 2026

Haitian Temporary Protected Status is scheduled to end on Feb. 3, putting work authorization for thousands of essential Massachusetts workers at risk. TPS for Haitians was established following the catastrophic 2010 earthquake, which claimed or left missing more than 316,000 lives, according to the Haitian government. TPS allowed Haitians already in the United States to remain safely while their country faced unprecedented devastation and was extended more recently as widespread gang violence has plagued the country along with social unrest and instability due to severe shortages of food, water, and healthcare.

Unless federal action is taken, many Haitian TPS holders will soon lose the legal ability to work. There is still time to act. Business owners and civic leaders across Massachusetts must raise their voices now—urging federal policymakers to extend Haitian TPS, protect work authorization, and provide stability for workers and employers alike.

In Massachusetts, an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 people will be affected by the termination of Haitian TPS. This is not simply an immigration issue. It is a workforce and economic issue with profound consequences for the Commonwealth.

Haitian TPS holders are among the many people whose daily work sustains our communities. They care for our elders, staff hospitals and nursing homes, keep restaurants and hotels operating, build homes, transport goods, and support nonprofits that serve vulnerable populations. Many have lived and worked legally in the state for more than a decade, paying taxes, raising families, and contributing to their communities.

Health care will feel the impact first—and most severely. Haitian TPS holders make up a critical portion of the long-term care workforce, serving as certified nursing assistants, home health aides, and direct care workers. Industry estimates suggest that the state could lose about 2,000 long-term caregivers. These positions are already among the most understaffed in Massachusetts. Losing even a portion of this workforce will lead to fewer available beds, longer wait times, increased burnout for remaining staff, and potentially the closure of facilities families rely on. There is no backup workforce waiting to fill these roles.

The ripple effects extend far beyond health care. Haitian TPS holders also work across hospitality, construction, transportation, and business services—sectors that continue to face persistent labor shortages. Employers already struggling to recruit for open positions will face even greater challenges. Productivity will decline, costs will rise, and services will be reduced.

The economic cost is significant. Haitian TPS holders in Massachusetts collectively earn hundreds of millions of dollars annually and contribute tens of millions in state and local taxes. They are renters and homeowners, consumers who support local businesses, and parents of U.S.-citizen children. When workers lose authorization to work, that income disappears from local economies, housing markets, and municipal budgets.

Nonprofits and community-based organizations are also at risk. Many rely on Haitian TPS holders as essential staff—caregivers, educators, case managers, and support workers. Losing them would further strain systems that are already stretched thin.

The uncertainty surrounding TPS is also damaging. Employers cannot plan and workers are forced into impossible decisions about their futures. Workforce stability matters—for businesses, for individuals, for families, and for the Commonwealth.

This is where Massachusetts business leaders must lead. When the business community speaks with clarity and unity, policymakers listen. Too often, immigration debates ignore economic reality. But employers understand the cost of losing skilled, reliable workers overnight. Feb. 3 is less than three weeks away. Silence now will only deepen the damage later.

Massachusetts prides itself on valuing work, contribution, and community. Haitian TPS holders embody those values. Ending TPS would not make our state stronger or safer—it would make us weaker, less competitive, and less humane.

This is a moment for leadership. Business owners across Massachusetts must step up, speak out, and stand with the workers who help keep this state running every day. Supporting a stable workforce is not a partisan issue—it’s a practical one that affects every Massachusetts community.

Angela Bovill is the president and CEO of Ascentria Care Alliance.