In all, 52 lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate signed the letter, Warren\u2019s office said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis trend of de-legalizing legal immigrant workers will not make Americans safer. It will simply leave our communities with fewer options for quality, affordable care,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.<\/p>\n
The U.S. government granted temporary legal status to Haitians after the country was devastated by an earthquake in 2010. And since the country\u2019s president was killed in 2021<\/a>, violent gangs run much of the country<\/a>, Marketplace reported.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has defended the move, arguing that it \u201crestores integrity in our immigration system and ensures that Temporary Protective Status is actually temporary.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe environmental situation in Haiti has improved enough that it is safe for Haitian citizens to return home,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n Bay State elected leaders have spent weeks pleading with the Republican White House to extend temporary protected status, arguing that the economic fallout will be severe.<\/p>\n \u201cHaitian TPS holders are essential contributors to our state\u2019s workforce, filling roles that are vital to our economic stability and growth,\u201d that spans such industries as \u201chealth care and long-term care to transportation, hospitality, and construction,\u201d Gov. Maura Healey wrote in a letter last week <\/a>to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.<\/p>\n While immigrants make up around 20% of the U.S. civilian labor force, they account for more than a quarter of the estimated 4 million nursing assistants, home health aides, personal care aides and other direct-care workers, Warren and Pressley noted in their letter to industry and labor leaders.<\/p>\n In Massachusetts, meanwhile, immigrants account for 22% of the state\u2019s total workforce, but comprise nearly 40% of home health aides, with Haitians making up the broadest share, the two lawmakers wrote.<\/p>\n The Bay State is home to one of the largest Haitian populations in the country, more than 45,000 of whom have temporary protected status, Healey said. Those workers \u201chelp keep our economy running. The sudden loss of their legal status and work authorization would be devastating for our state.\u201d<\/p>\n Warren and Pressley said they\u2019re \u201cgravely concerned\u201d that the end of the temporary legal status will \u201cthreaten access to health care, elder care, and disability care for American families.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Government](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/HCEZIVNGNFE7HAZQUPZFILJ6YM.jpg\")
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., attends a news conference about SNAP benefits, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington.(AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)<\/p>\n![\"Ellen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ET63KKRC3FGWLPY5LZCM7BEBN4.jpg\")
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District, left, speaks at a press conference in support of Ellen Mei, right, a federal employee fired for giving a news interview about SNAP during the government shutdown.(Tr\u00e9a Lavery\/MassLive)<\/p>\n