Governor Healey Demands Trump Administration Extend Temporary Protected Status for Salvadorans

Governor Healey Demands Trump Administration Extend Temporary Protected Status for Salvadorans 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura Healey demanded that the Trump Administration extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Salvadoran nationals currently living and working in the United States, which has been in place since 2001 but is set to expire on Wednesday. Governor Healey emphasized to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin that Salvadoran TPS holders play an essential role in the United States economy and workforce. There are more than 170,000 Salvadoran TPS holders across the United States currently authorized to work through their TPS Status, including nearly 8,000 in Massachusetts.

“Salvadoran TPS holders have been making Massachusetts their home for more than 20 years, fleeing dangerous conditions caused by earthquakes and instability. They have opened businesses, bought homes and become a strong foundation of our workforce,” said Governor Healey. “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. This is another cruel step from the Trump Administration that makes no sense, and it needs to be reversed immediately.”

Thousands of Salvadoran TPS holders are deeply embedded in industries that are essential to the Massachusetts economy, including healthcare, hospitality, landscaping, construction and food services. The loss of their work authorization would create significant workforce disruptions, place additional strain on employers already facing labor shortages, and impact businesses statewide.

Nationwide, TPS-eligible Salvadorans contribute $5.4 billion annually to the U.S. economy. They pay taxes, contribute to Social Security and Medicare, and spend their earnings in local businesses. Many are homeowners and parents of U.S.-citizen children. 

Governor Healey’s full letter is available here.

Governor Healey has been a strong advocate for TPS holders, including Haitians, Syrians, Hondurans, and Venezuelans, and the employers who rely on them. In January, she urged then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, citing the critical role TPS holders play in Massachusetts' workforce, economy and health care system. She has also convened business leaders to discuss the impacts of President Trump's immigration policies, including the termination of TPS, on Massachusetts employers and the economy. Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision allowing President Trump to end TPS for Haitians, she held a press conference with Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and community leaders to call for continued protections and called on Congress to pass legislation extending TPS for Haitians. The Healey-Driscoll Administration has also provided guidance and training to hundreds of employers and directed state agencies to support impacted workers, employers and communities with information and resources while continuing to urge federal action.

The United Way of Massachusetts Bay has activated the United Response Fund to support community organizations providing emergency assistance to families impacted by the expiration of TPS. Individuals and organizations interested in supporting these efforts can learn more at United Response Fund - United Way of Massachusetts Bay.