Mass. immigrants who had legal status lose work in home and health care

For more than a year, Robert spent his days getting seniors dressed, taking their vital signs and helping them eat at Edgewood LifeCare Community in North Andover.

But one day in May, that changed. A human resources officer said his work permit was no longer valid; he would be laid off.

“When they said, ‘You won’t be able to work,’ I’m like, my God. I cried. Because I had a good relationship with the clients and they love me so much. They love me so much because I took good care of them,” said Robert in a phone interview. GBH News agreed to use only his first name due to his fears of deportation.

Robert is one of thousands of health and nursing home workers in Massachusetts who have lost or are at risk of losing their employment due to the Trump administration terminating their legal st