President Donald Trump announced that he is immediately ending Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals living in Minnesota, a program originally established in 1991. In a late-night post, he accused Minnesota’s Somali community of widespread fraud, gang activity, and funneling stolen taxpayer money to terrorist groups abroad. His statement followed a City Journal investigation claiming billions in state welfare funds were stolen during Gov. Tim Walz’s administration, with federal officials reportedly linking some of the missing money to Somalia’s Al-Shabaab.
Minnesota officials are also facing intensifying scrutiny over several state programs plagued by fraud allegations. The Department of Human Services recently asked for federal assistance in shutting down the Housing Stabilization Services program after explosive growth and “credible allegations of fraud.” The program’s spending reportedly jumped from $2.6 million to $107 million within several years. These concerns add to earlier major fraud cases, including schemes involving autism services, Medicaid programs, and the massive Feeding Our Future scandal.
The Feeding Our Future case, involving $250 million in misused federal pandemic funds, is the largest COVID-era fraud prosecution in the U.S. Recent court actions include probation for Khadar Adan, who allowed a fraudulent food-distribution site to operate from his business center. Dozens of defendants have pleaded guilty, including individuals tied to Rep. Ilhan Omar’s political circle.