Yesterday, the Biden administration announced plans to make it legally possible for Venezuelan immigrants to seek work in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security is planning to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to close to a half million Venezuelans who arrived in the U.S. on or before July 31, 2023, which will facilitate their ability to obtain work authorizations. Venezuelan’s who arrived after July 31st will not be eligible, and those who are eligible will need to submit an application in order to obtain the TPS. Governor Healey, who declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts due to a shelter system overwhelmed by the number of migrants entering Massachusetts, has been actively encouraging the federal government to come forward with solutions that enable these individuals seeking asylum to work in our state. The Healey administration is also requesting the federal government extend funding, expedited work permits, and TPS to Haitian families. This new TPS opportunity for Venezuelan immigrants is encouraging news as Massachusetts nursing facilities continue to grapple with a workforce shortage of 8,000 individuals across all departments. MSCA will share additional information as it becomes available.