Nursing homes nationwide report mounting staff shortages as President Donald Trump’s immigration policies disrupt long-term care operations. Facilities that rely heavily on foreign-born workers now face the loss of employees with revoked legal status and fewer new hires due to slowed legal immigration channels. Deke Cateau, CEO of A.G. Rhodes in Atlanta, warns that while only eight workers are currently impacted, the long-term pipeline is “getting smaller and smaller.”
Immigration Cuts Impact a Critical Labor Force
According to PHI, over a quarter of direct care workers—including nursing assistants and home health aides—are foreign-born. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 820,000 new caregiving jobs by 2032, driven by the aging Baby Boom generation. Yet care homes that counted on immigrants to fill these roles face escalating challenges. Katie Smith Sloan of LeadingAge highlights growing fear among legal workers about raids, leading some to avoid work or keep children home from school.
Staffing Gaps Hit Homes Across the Country
At Sinai Residences in Florida, CEO Rachel Blumberg has already lost 10 employees due to revoked humanitarian parole status. She expects 30 more departures soon as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) ends for Haitians. With less than 24 hours’ notice before losing work authorization, filling shifts has become a scramble. “Americans are not drawn to applying and working in the positions that we have available,” Blumberg notes.
Immigration Delays Send Candidates Elsewhere
Mark Sanchez of United Hebrew in New York observes that the once-simple visa processes for registered nurses now stretch so long that candidates choose Canada or Germany instead. “The pipeline that was flowing before is now coming in dribs and drabs,” Sanchez says, echoing frustrations shared by many in the sector.
Refugee Programs Halted, Worsening Shortages
In Wisconsin, Robin Wolzenburg saw promising retention rates from hiring Afghan and Ukrainian refugees post-2021. Yet Trump’s halt on most refugee admissions has stalled that successful recruitment strategy. Lynne Katman of Juniper Communities underscores how finding passionate, reliable caregivers is already difficult, and further restrictions threaten the industry’s stability.
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Nursing homes struggle with Trump’s immigration crackdown
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