MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A surge of federal officers in Minnesota follows new allegations of fraud by day care centers run by Somali residents. President Donald Trump has previously linked his administration’s immigration crackdown against Minnesota’s large Somali community to a series of fraud cases involving government programs in which most defendants have roots in the east African country.
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, and FBI Director Kash Patel both announced an increase in operations in Minnesota this week. This move follows a right-wing influencer claiming that day care centers operated by Somali residents in Minneapolis had committed up to $100 million in fraud. Tikki Brown, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, stated at Monday’s news conference that state regulators have taken these allegations seriously.
Noem posted on social media regarding a massive investigation on childcare and rampant fraud while Patel mentioned their goal was to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs.
Minnesota has been under scrutiny for years regarding Medicaid fraud, which includes a massive $300 million pandemic-related fraud case involving the non-profit Feeding Our Future. Prosecutors claimed this was the largest COVID-related fraud scheme in the U.S., with defendants exploiting a state-run program meant to provide food for children. Thus far, 57 individuals have been convicted in this case, mainly of Somali descent.
Prosecutor Joe Thompson, in various interviews, stated there is a possibility that Minnesota's total fraud losses could exceed $1 billion, and he asserted that approximately half of the $18 billion allocated in federal funds across multiple programs since 2018 may have been misappropriated.
Trump’s administration has specifically focused on the Somali community in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, which houses the largest Somali population in the U.S. The immigration enforcement discussion has highlighted longstanding community tensions, particularly against a backdrop of accusations aimed at Somali Americans for various fraudulent schemes.
Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who seeks a third term in the upcoming elections, has pledged to collaborate with federal agencies to eradicate fraud and maintain accountability in government programs. Notably, Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, Minnesota's prominent Somali American figure, has called for communities not to be blamed for the actions of a few.
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, and FBI Director Kash Patel both announced an increase in operations in Minnesota this week. This move follows a right-wing influencer claiming that day care centers operated by Somali residents in Minneapolis had committed up to $100 million in fraud. Tikki Brown, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, stated at Monday’s news conference that state regulators have taken these allegations seriously.
Noem posted on social media regarding a massive investigation on childcare and rampant fraud while Patel mentioned their goal was to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs.
Minnesota has been under scrutiny for years regarding Medicaid fraud, which includes a massive $300 million pandemic-related fraud case involving the non-profit Feeding Our Future. Prosecutors claimed this was the largest COVID-related fraud scheme in the U.S., with defendants exploiting a state-run program meant to provide food for children. Thus far, 57 individuals have been convicted in this case, mainly of Somali descent.
Prosecutor Joe Thompson, in various interviews, stated there is a possibility that Minnesota's total fraud losses could exceed $1 billion, and he asserted that approximately half of the $18 billion allocated in federal funds across multiple programs since 2018 may have been misappropriated.
Trump’s administration has specifically focused on the Somali community in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, which houses the largest Somali population in the U.S. The immigration enforcement discussion has highlighted longstanding community tensions, particularly against a backdrop of accusations aimed at Somali Americans for various fraudulent schemes.
Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who seeks a third term in the upcoming elections, has pledged to collaborate with federal agencies to eradicate fraud and maintain accountability in government programs. Notably, Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, Minnesota's prominent Somali American figure, has called for communities not to be blamed for the actions of a few.
