On June 24, ASHA and Argentum sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem seeking a delay in the termination of humanitarian programs, such as the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV), Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans and Haitians, and other programs that are currently providing parolees the ability to live and work in the United States. With the sudden termination of these programs, essential senior living workers are receiving notices to immediately leave their workplace and to self deport. Given the current workforce shortage in senior living, this poses a danger to our residents who rely on these caregivers and other essential workers. Therefore, a one-year delay is urgently requested to allow our communities to appropriately respond to these abrupt changes.

Our workers are key to maintaining the health and wellbeing of the residents they serve, thereby reducing the need for more critical services or hospitalization. When residents of senior living are well cared for, the overall healthcare system benefits. It would be a disservice to our residents who are frail and in need of supportive services, to terminate the programs that have helped to supply our long-term care workforce.

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