House majority whip vows to deport Somalis involved in Minnesota welfare fraud scandal

WASHINGTON (TNND) — The third in command of the House Republicans is calling to revoke citizenship and deport Somalian nationals connected to defrauding Minnesota and the federal government.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-WI) took to X to express his intention to “change the law” to ensure that members of Minnesota’s Somalian community are removed from the country for engaging in illegal activity.

“I have three words regarding Somalis who have committed fraud against American taxpayers: Send them home. If they’re here illegally, deport them immediately; if they’re naturalized citizens, revoke their citizenship and deport them quickly thereafter,” Emmer wrote on X.

“If we need to change the law to do that, I will.”

Emmer’s tweet comes following several investigations revealing that billions of dollars have been defrauded by individuals from the Somalian diaspora in Minnesota.

On Monday, Attorney General Pam Bondi shared on X that 98 individuals — 85 of Somalian descent — have been charged in connection to these schemes. Her tweet comes in response to a viral video posted by Independent journalist Nick Shirley in which he shows a number of daycares in Minnesota which receive state dollars that appear to not be in operation. As a result, the Department of Homeland Security has sent investigators to the state.

Meanwhile, federal investigators are looking into 14 Medicaid-funded programs provided by the state due to suspicious billing practices. Prosecutors suspect that more than half of the $18 billion taxpayer funding for the programs was stolen.

With Minnesota under greater scrutiny, there are allegations that members of the Somalian community have funneled welfare money to the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab, but those allegations remain unfounded.

“Our nation will not tolerate those who take advantage of our charity and refuse to assimilate into our culture,” Emmer wrote.

“Additionally, if any naturalized Somalis had undisclosed ties to terrorist organizations like Al-Shabaab, I want to see their citizenship revoked and their asses sent back immediately. Same goes for anyone who is found to have committed marriage fraud during the immigration process.”