Something troubling is happening in our country. Across America — and especially here in Maine — hospitals are overwhelmed. Doctor’s offices are closing early. Nursing homes are turning people away. The reason isn’t a mystery; we don’t have enough health care workers. But instead of solving this crisis, political leaders are making it worse.

A new federal rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services bars undocumented immigrants from receiving many government-funded health care services. This change might sound like a technical detail, but the effects will be felt in exam rooms, hospital beds and emergency departments all over the country. Let’s talk about why.

Immigrants, some of them undocumented, are a crucial part of our health care system. They work long hours in hard jobs that most Americans won’t do. They are nurse’s aides, home health workers, janitors, medical assistants, cooks, transporters and caregivers. They help our elderly parents out of bed. They clean hospital rooms so infections don’t spread. They bathe, feed and comfort patients at their most vulnerable moments.

They are not taking jobs away from anyone. They are filling jobs that are empty — jobs that must be done to keep health care going. But now, with this new rule, they’re being pushed out.

When undocumented workers are denied health care coverage, they get sick and can’t get treatment. They miss work. Some leave their jobs or the country out of fear. Others get deported. And that leaves hospitals, clinics and nursing homes even more short-staffed than they already are.

Right now, across the U.S., health care facilities are sounding the alarm. Nursing homes report record staff shortages — some say 1 in 4 jobs are unfilled. Hospitals can’t find enough aides to care for patients. Rural clinics are shutting down. People are waiting weeks, even months, for basic care.

In Maine, this is especially urgent. We are the oldest state in the country, and our need for caregivers is only growing. From Presque Isle to Portland, long-term care facilities are struggling to maintain safe staffing levels. This is not because we don’t have enough patients. It’s because we don’t have enough caregivers. And this is not about politics. It’s about people.

Imagine Asha. She works in a nursing home. She lifts heavy patients all day, helps them shower, feeds them and makes sure they feel safe. She does this with a smile, even when her back aches and her legs are tired. Asha is undocumented. She pays taxes. She works full time. She has lived in the U.S. for over five decades.

Now imagine Asha gets hurt at work. Maybe she pulls her back helping someone into a wheelchair. Under the new rule, she might not be able to get physical therapy. She might be denied the care she needs to keep working. Without treatment, she loses her job. And the patients she once cared for are left without help.

This isn’t just Asha’s problem. It’s ours. Who will take care of the patients she served?

The new federal rule bars many undocumented immigrants from services like community health clinics, mental health programs and maternal care support. It sends a clear message: if you’re not here legally, you don’t matter. Even if you are saving lives. Even if you’re working 60 hours a week to care for others.

That message is not only short-sighted — it’s dangerous.

Here’s the truth: health care doesn’t work well when it’s based on fear. When people are afraid to get care, diseases go undetected. Infections spread. People with high blood pressure or diabetes don’t get treated until they collapse. And guess who ends up paying for that? All of us — through crowded emergency rooms, higher premiums and burned-out staff.

We don’t fix a workforce crisis by kicking out the workers. We don’t improve health by denying care to the people who give it. We need to think differently.

Instead of blocking care for undocumented workers, we should be supporting them. We should offer a path for those already serving in health care to get legal status. We should make sure they can access preventive care so they stay healthy and on the job. We should treat them as what they are — essential.

This is not a radical idea. It’s common sense. When we take care of the people who care for us, we all benefit. Hospitals stay open. Families get the help they need. Patients are treated with respect. And immigrant workers like Asha are healthier, safer and more able to keep serving our communities.

Some critics say, “Why should we pay for people who broke the law to be here?” Here’s my answer: because they are already here. They are already working. They are already helping. And because punishing them hurts everyone else. You don’t put out a fire by cutting the water hose. You don’t fix a broken health care system by pushing out the only people willing to fix it.

Across the country, and especially here in Maine, the demand for care is growing. Our population is aging. Chronic illnesses are on the rise. We need more hands, more hearts and more workers. Immigrants have stepped up. Now it’s our turn.

Let’s pass policies that protect the people who protect us. Let’s invest in the caregivers who do the hard work no one else will. Let’s build a health care system that values service over status.

Because someday, someone you love — your child, your spouse, your parent — will need care. And when that day comes, it may be an immigrant like Asha who shows up to help.

Let’s make sure she’s still here.