Wisconsin’s long‑term‑care sector is feeling the impact of recent federal immigration actions. The Trump administration halted nearly all refugee admissions and ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for people from 13 countries, a move officials say was necessary to preserve resources for American workers.
Local providers cite staffing crisis
LeadingAge CEO Katie Smith Sloan warned that the loss of foreign‑born workers has “basically cut off or severely limited every pipeline” that Wisconsin agencies relied on for caregivers. Without a ready supply of U.S.-born individuals willing to enter aging services, home‑health agencies are turning away new clients and nursing homes are closing beds and wings.
Robin Wolzenburg, director of operations at Koru Health, noted that the policy change in January 2025 stopped the flow of refugees who had previously filled nursing‑home positions. A White House statement explained the decision was made because the United States could not support new refugees without “compromising the availability of resources for Americans.”
Immigrant workers form a large share of the workforce
According to the health‑policy group KFF, about 30% of direct‑care workers nationwide are immigrants, including nursing assistants, personal care aides and home‑health aides. In Wisconsin, the shortage is forcing facilities to limit admissions and leaving families to shoulder additional burdens.
Stories like that of 30‑year‑old Myranda Gereau, a quadriplegic resident of Sheboygan who relies on 24/7 care, illustrate the human cost. “This is literally my life we’re talking about,” she said, emphasizing how caregiver gaps can jeopardize safety and independence.
State lawmakers seek relief
Recognizing the strain, bipartisan legislators – Sen. Jesse James (R‑Thorp), Rep. Joel Kitchens (R‑Sturgeon Bay) and Rep. Sylvia Ortiz‑Velez (D‑Milwaukee) – co‑authored legislation that passed in April allowing DACA recipients to obtain professional licenses in nursing and related fields.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an addition of 847,000 home‑health aide jobs over the next decade, the largest growth of any sector, yet median wages of $35,800 in 2025 make recruitment difficult.
Providers adapt with creative solutions
Some agencies are turning to local hiring and worker‑housing strategies originally designed for international staff. Kate Battiato of LeadingAge Wisconsin noted that a nursing home in Sparta invested over $100,000 in housing for overseas workers; when visas became scarce, the facility repurposed the housing for current staff, helping retain employees.
Despite these efforts, the loss of TPS‑protected workers – an estimated 53,000 who were employed in health care in 2024 – continues to exacerbate turnover, according to Valley VNA Senior Care in Neenah.
Administration’s stance
The Trump administration maintains that TPS and refugee programs are temporary measures and that ending them protects American jobs and resources. A recent press release reaffirmed that the program was always intended as a short‑term solution and urged affected individuals to pursue legal status through other pathways. The Supreme Court upheld the termination of TPS for Haitians and Syrians in June.
While the policy’s intent is to prioritize American workers, Wisconsin’s care providers argue that a balanced approach – preserving pathways for qualified immigrant caregivers while expanding domestic recruitment – is essential to meet the growing needs of an aging population.
Original reporting: Wisconsin Watch — read the source article.
