President Donald Trump’s announcement of plans to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali immigrants in Minnesota comes as new information surfaces regarding past interactions between Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and individuals later convicted in a major federal fraud case. In January, the Department of Justice secured convictions against the co-owner of Safari Restaurant in Minnesota and a former mayoral aide. According to the DOJ, between April 2020 and January 2022, the defendants exploited federal child-nutrition programs by diverting millions of dollars intended to reimburse meals for children during the pandemic. While the DOJ confirmed that Omar had previous contact with some of the individuals involved, the department did not accuse her of any wrongdoing.
The broader investigation examined misuse of funds connected to pandemic-era food assistance programs. Court documents show that Safari Restaurant received over $16 million in fraudulent reimbursements tied to the Federal Child Nutrition Program. Additionally, Stigma-Free International — a nonprofit linked to the scheme — operated multiple sites across Minnesota. One of the convicted individuals, Abdi Salah, also served as a senior policy aide to the mayor of Minneapolis. Rep. Omar had previously campaigned at Safari Restaurant, which donated approximately $4,700 to her campaign between 2021 and 2022. These events have drawn renewed attention, although Omar has not been implicated in the fraudulent activities.
In a video posted to X, recorded before the allegations surfaced, Omar praised Safari Restaurant for supporting meal distribution efforts during the pandemic. She highlighted the importance of ensuring that children who rely on school meals continued receiving adequate nutrition while learning from home. Prosecutors now allege that the restaurant and associated entities claimed reimbursements for meals that were never served, as part of a scheme estimated at $250 million.
Trump recently connected his remarks about Minnesota’s Somali community to the federal prosecutions, arguing that many of those charged in the case were Somali nationals. His statements drew criticism from Omar, who called the president “obsessed” and “creepy” in response. Omar reiterated that she had no involvement in the fraud investigation and condemned the president’s comments as divisive.