Shortly thereafter, the U.S. granted temporary protected status (TPS) to Hondurans, citing the environmental disaster the hurricane had wrought. With a rapidly aging population, California could face a shortage of between 600,000 and 3.2 million care workers by 2030, the report says. Before the termination of TPS for many immigrants, “we were already in a huge care shortage,” says De La Cruz. De La Cruz is struck recalling that just a few years ago, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, care workers were recognized as essential, even heralded as heroes. “It’s just a matter of your skin color and your last name.”Oronia worries that the anxiety he and other care workers are experiencing could have consequences for the people under their watch.