Lawmakers request DOJ probe into whether Somali fraud and ICE protests are linked

By Thérèse Boudreaux
The Center Square

The U.S. House Oversight Committee is requesting that the Department of Justice investigate whether the Somali welfare fraud and anti-immigration enforcement protests in Minnesota are connected.

In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Republican lawmakers suggested the possibility that there exists “organized efforts to obstruct law enforcement with foreign influences and criminal activities, including fraud.”

“The Committee believes it is imperative to assess whether foreign-sourced funding and/or proceeds of financial crimes, particularly those involving federal funds, may be contributing to, or otherwise exacerbating unrest and efforts to obstruct law enforcement,” the lawmakers, led by Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., wrote Monday.

Their request for a DOJ briefing on the matter follows President Donald Trump’s previous comments that the Minnesota Somali fraud scandal “is at least partially responsible for the violent organized protests going on in the streets.”

The estimated $9 billion in welfare fraud was uncovered in October, and by December nearly 100 people – including 85 Somali immigrants – faced criminal charges, with dozens pleading guilty.

Among other schemes, fraudsters had falsely claimed children had autism to obtain benefits and enrolled ineligible individuals in food assistance programs.

On Jan. 7, protests in the Twin Cities region erupted after a federal immigration enforcement officer fatally shot a Minnesota resident and American citizen who authorities say attempted to hit agents with her car.

The committee believes the incidents “suggest coordinated or systemic activity” and is urging the DOJ to investigate “whether large-scale financial crimes involving federal funds may contribute to broader public safety or civil order challenges” related to immigration.

“The scale and duration of these schemes have raised concerns regarding whether fraud proceeds are being laundered or otherwise routed through nonprofit or organizational entities in ways that evade oversight,” lawmakers wrote. “As much of this fraud has disproportionally involved Minnesota’s immigrant community, targeted enforcement operations by ICE play a key role in stopping this systemic corruption.”

Fraudsters have taken advantage of Medicaid-funded services through Minnesota Department of Human Services programs for years, particularly targeting COVID-19 era programs, The Center Square reported.

In light of the newest revelations, Republicans have accused state officials of suppressing fraud reports and punishing whistleblowers, which Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has denied.

Gov. Tim Walz recently unveiled his “comprehensive anti-fraud package,” but only after the Trump administration halted nearly $260 million in Medicaid funds to the state.