LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – As the immigration debate heats up, so do concerns about how enforcement policies might shake up the long-term care industry in Michigan and around the rest of the country. While hiring illegal immigrants is against the law, that hasn’t stopped an estimated 4 to 6% of undocumented workers from becoming caregivers – a fact that’s raising eyebrows as President Trump’s promises of mass deportations loom.

With an aging population and a growing need for caregivers, some experts and advocates are warning that stricter immigration measures could worsen workforce shortages, particularly in states where foreign-born workers make up a significant portion of the industry.

How dependent Is elder care on immigrant workers?

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The U.S. healthcare system relies heavily on immigrant workers, especially in long-term care. Studies indicate that immigrants account for 28% of workers in nursing homes and home care services. The percentage of undocumented (illegal) workers in these roles amounts to about 4.2% of nursing assistants and 6.4% of home health aides, according to estimates from the American Immigration Council.

While this may not seem like a large portion of the workforce, advocates argue that removing these workers from the system could have ripple effects including discouraging other immigrants from entering the field and exacerbating existing shortages.

A growing demand for caregivers.

The need for long-term care workers is increasing rapidly with the aging population in the country. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects that demand for home health aides, nursing assistants, and personal care aides will rise between 35% and 41% from 2022 to 2037. In California alone, a quarter of the population will be over 60 by 2030, making the need for caregivers more urgent than ever.

Yet, despite this growing demand, the industry has struggled to attract workers. Many positions offer low wages, limited benefits, and physically demanding conditions, making it difficult to retain employees – regardless of immigration status. Some argue that increasing wages and improving working conditions would help attract more U.S.-born workers to the field, while others believe that expanding legal immigration pathways is the best solution.

The policy debate: immigration enforcement vs. workforce stability.

The Biden administration’s approach to immigration differed significantly from former President Trump’s, who has pledged to implement the largest deportation effort in U.S. history as president. His agenda includes limiting temporary work authorizations, rolling back protections for asylum seekers, and expanding border security efforts.

Opponents of these policies argue that tougher immigration enforcement could discourage workers from entering caregiving roles, whether through direct deportations or fears of legal uncertainty.

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Experts cite studies showing that past immigration crackdowns have reduced care hours for nursing home residents, warning that even a slight worker shortage could overwhelm the system, leading to lower-quality care and potential fatalities.

On the other hand, supporters of stronger immigration enforcement argue that reducing reliance on undocumented workers could lead to higher wages and better opportunities for American workers – leading to more citizens joining the workforce to take care of the elderly. Some policymakers have proposed alternative solutions, such as streamlining visa programs specifically for healthcare workers to ensure a steady supply of caregivers without relying on unauthorized labor.

Senior care crisis incoming? CEO warns of staffing shortages as illegal immigrants self-deport.

Adam Lampert, CEO of Cambridge Caregivers and Manchester Care Homes out of Texas was on the Steve Gruber Show recently and talked about how the deportation of illegal immigrants is already impacting the senior care industry with many workers self-deporting out of fear about their future in the United States.

Lampard warned that this exodus could lead to severe staffing shortages in nursing homes and in- home care services. He points to the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of how losing a large number of healthcare workers can cause system-wide disruptions and inflationary pressures. He said that many undocumented caregivers work directly for families without formal employment records, meaning their departure isn’t immediately visible but still creates ripple effects, increasing competition for legal workers and driving up costs.

Lampard told Steve Gruber that the solution isn’t an open border but rather a modernized visa system that allows for legal guest workers to fill these essential roles. He emphasizes that the number of available work visas hasn’t changed since 1990, despite growing demand for healthcare staff, especially with over a thousand Americans turning 65 every day. Without immigration reform, he warns, the country faces a looming healthcare crisis driven by labor shortages and rising costs and he hopes lawmakers will act before the situation worsens.

The high cost of illegal dependency.

At the heart of this crisis is a brutal reality: America’s elder care system became reliant on illegal labor during Biden’s open-border policies, and now the bill is coming due. As Trump’s promised deportations begin, the cracks in the system are showing.

Nursing homes and families who hired undocumented workers are scrambling as these caregivers either self-deport or face removal, leaving vulnerable seniors without care. This isn’t just a policy debate – it’s a matter of life and death. The country’s failure to secure legal, stable workforce solutions has put the most fragile Americans at risk. Now, it looks like seniors might be facing the consequences soon.