At morning event Healy pressed on immigrant work authorizations; audience cites stagnant totals

A question-and-answer exchange at the workforce-agenda rollout focused on immigrant work authorizations and whether the state has expanded labor-market access.

An audience member asked whether the administration had done more to increase authorizations, saying, "I think it's around 28,100 individuals, since about December," and characterizing the public reports as showing stagnation.

Governor Healy responded that the administration has concentrated on processing authorizations and said federal partners have been engaged on the ground. "We've now processed 3,000 people, just about for work authorization," Healy said, and cited examples, including a local hospital filling janitorial and cleaning positions.

Healy also said numbers have shifted after a cap was imposed and that processing continues, though "not to the degree as before." The governor asked reporters to remain on topic while answering follow-ups and said his administration would continue pursuing opportunities to place authorized workers with employers.

The exchange raised two different numerical claims in the event; officials did not provide a consolidated accounting or documentation during the briefing. The audience member's total (about 28,100) and the governor's figure (about 3,000 processed) were both stated on the record, and both should be verified with administration data for publication beyond this report.

No formal action or change in policy was announced during the exchange; it was part of the press briefing on the broader workforce agenda.