Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey demanded that the Trump Administration extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Salvadoran nationals living and working in the United States, ahead of the designation’s expiration. According to a statement released by Governor Healey’s Office, the status has been in place since 2001 and currently protects more than 170,000 Salvadoran TPS holders nationwide, including nearly 8,000 residents in Massachusetts.
Economic Impact and Workforce Reliance in Massachusetts
Salvadoran TPS holders are deeply embedded in industries essential to the Massachusetts economy, according to Governor Healey’s Office. These workers hold jobs in healthcare, hospitality, landscaping, construction, and food services. The potential loss of work authorization threatens to create significant workforce disruptions and add pressure to employers already facing labor shortages across the state.
Nationwide, TPS-eligible Salvadorans contribute $5.4 billion annually to the U.S. economy, paying taxes, contributing to Social Security and Medicare, and spending earnings in local businesses. Many of these individuals are homeowners and parents of U.S.-citizen children who face sudden displacement if their legal status lapses.
“Salvadoran TPS holders have been making Massachusetts their home for more than 20 years, fleeing dangerous conditions caused by earthquakes and instability,” Governor Healey said. “They have opened businesses, bought homes and become a strong foundation of our workforce.”
Call for Federal Reversal and Community Support
Governor Healey criticized the impending expiration as a harmful measure for immigrant families and the broader economy, noting similar disruptions experienced by other groups. “The sudden loss of their legal status will have devastating consequences for these families and our economy, as we have already seen with other groups that have had their status taken away by this President,” Healey stated. “This is another cruel step from the Trump Administration that makes no sense, and it needs to be reversed immediately.”
Governor Healey has previously advocated for TPS holders, including Haitians, Syrians, Hondurans, and Venezuelans. In response to the expiration, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay activated the United Response Fund to support community organizations providing emergency assistance to impacted families.
Related reading