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By Daniel Orton
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GOP Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota has called for sweeping immigration penalties against Somalis in his state who are accused of fraud, urging denaturalization and deportation for those who violate U.S. laws.
"Send them home," he said in a statement shared on social media of anyone engaged in taxpayer fraud, including naturalized citizens who conceal ties to terrorist groups or commit marriage fraud. Emmer vowed to pursue legislative changes if necessary, framing the crackdown as a defense of American values and warning that the nation “will not tolerate those who take advantage of our charity and refuse to assimilate.”
Why It Matters
Minnesota is grappling with what's been described as an "industrial-scale fraud" scandal, with prosecutors alleging that schemes tied to programs like Feeding Our Future siphoned off hundreds of millions of dollars meant for child nutrition and health services during the pandemic. Federal officials say the fraud could total billions, and most defendants charged so far are Somali Americans, a fact that has turned the case into a cultural and political flashpoint. Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the U.S.
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What To Know
The FBI has deployed additional personnel to Minnesota, with FBI Director Kash Patel stating that recent investigations uncovered widespread fraudulent activity and that "many who were involved in the scheme are being referred to immigration officials for possible further denaturalization and deportation proceedings where eligible."
Prosecutors report that the Feeding Our Future case, centered on a federally funded program meant to feed children during the COVID-19 pandemic, led to 78 indictments and 57 convictions to date. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota, about 89 percent of those charged are Somali Americans. Nonetheless, the vast majority of Minnesota's Somali population are U.S. citizens. Census data show that 58 percent of Somalis in Minnesota were born in the U.S., and 87 percent of foreign-born Somalis are naturalized citizens.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump has stated on Truth Social: "Minnesota, under Governor [Tim] Waltz, is a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity. I am, as President of the United States, hereby terminating, effective immediately, the Temporary Protected Status (TPS Program) for Somalis in Minnesota. Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing. Send them back to where they came from. It’s OVER!"
Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz responded: "We are a state that chooses not to let people go hungry or homeless or uneducated. However, that generosity has been taken advantage of by an organized group of fraudsters and criminals. Minnesota’s longstanding high standards of integrity of public funds go hand-in-hand with a culture of generosity. You can’t have one without the other."
Minnesota Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar, the state's most prominent Somali American official, told CBS News: "This also has an impact on Somalis, because we are also taxpayers in Minnesota...We also could have benefited from the program and the money that was stolen."
Minneapolis Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey said: “Minneapolis is proud to be home to the largest Somali community in the country…They are our neighbors, our friends, and our family—and they are welcome in our city. Nothing Donald Trump does will ever change that."
What Happens Next
Federal and state investigations into the alleged fraud in Minnesota are ongoing. The FBI has signaled that “this is just the tip of a very large iceberg,” indicating additional potential charges and further scrutiny of immigration status for those convicted. Meanwhile, legislative efforts to change denaturalization and deportation laws are expected, but significant legal and constitutional barriers exist, especially for naturalized U.S. citizens.
Community and civil rights leaders have warned of risks of stigmatization and backlash against Somali Americans, with calls for focusing law enforcement efforts on individuals charged with crimes rather than entire groups. The U.S. Treasury Department continues to investigate allegations of fraud proceeds funding overseas terrorism, though no direct links have been substantiated so far, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The outcome of ongoing probes and upcoming court cases is likely to influence both Minnesota’s political landscape and national debates over immigration enforcement and public benefit programs in the coming year.
This article contains reporting by The Associated Press.
Update, 12/30/2025, 5:13 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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