A GBH News report this week highlighted growing confusion among Massachusetts home care employers following a federal court order protecting work authorization for Haitian caregivers under Temporary Protected Status. Despite the ruling, which blocked the termination of TPS and extended employment protections, a home care agency laid off three Haitian caregivers, citing uncertainty over expired documents.

Jake Krilovich, executive director of Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, a trade association working with more than 200 home care providers, wasn’t surprised about the confusion surrounding the order.

“It goes back to … consistency is one term, but I think just kind of confusion — confusion on the part of employers, but also confusion for the workers,” he said. “It’s just for the last year, there’s been a lot of confusion and it’s hard to keep up with.”

Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts CEO Jake Krilovich told GBH the situation reflects widespread confusion among employers and workers as immigration policies shift rapidly. He noted that inconsistent federal actions over the past year have made it difficult for providers to keep up, even when court guidance appears clear.

State agencies, including the Governor’s office and the Attorney General, have since reiterated that Haitian TPS holders remain eligible to work and urged employers to seek legal guidance and avoid discriminatory practices. Advocates warned that misinterpretation of the order has immediate consequences for caregivers, patients, and families who depend on stable in-home care. The episode underscores how federal immigration policy uncertainty is becoming a significant workforce issue for Massachusetts’ home care sector.