Wed Dec 31 01:00:00 UTC 2025: Federal Agencies Surge Resources into Minnesota Amid Fraud Allegations Targeting Somali Community
Minneapolis, MN – Federal agencies, including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), are ramping up operations in Minnesota to investigate alleged fraud, particularly within child care centers. This follows a viral video by a conservative content creator making unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud in Somali-run centers. The stepped-up federal presence also coincides with recent ICE operations targeting undocumented Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
The investigation has garnered significant attention, with high-profile figures like Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk amplifying the video’s claims. US Health and Human Services has frozen child care payments to Minnesota, demanding stricter justification for future disbursements. Similarly, the Small Business Administration is suspending funding to investigate suspected PPP fraud in the state.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz stated that his administration has been actively combating fraud, referring cases to law enforcement and auditing high-risk programs. He has requested additional authority from the state legislature to take more aggressive action.
While federal officials claim the surge in resources was underway prior to the viral video, a law enforcement official acknowledged the video played a role in the increased DHS presence. The DHS has posted videos of agents visiting “suspected fraud sites.”
Critics argue that the heightened scrutiny is disproportionately targeting the Somali community in Minnesota, home to the largest Somali population in the United States. They suggest the actions are fueled by anti-immigrant sentiment and that the alleged fraud does not reflect the community as a whole.
The investigations build upon previous fraud cases in Minnesota, including the “Feeding Our Future” scandal, where dozens of people, mostly of Somali descent, were charged with falsely claiming to provide meals to needy children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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