A New Focus on Citizenship Fraud
The new year has brought a very serious message from the White House. On Wednesday, December 31, 2025, officials confirmed they are looking into a major issue. They are auditing the citizenship of some Somali Americans in the state of Minnesota. This move comes after reports of a giant fraud scheme involving federal money. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke about this on Fox News. She said the government is “not afraid” to use a tool called denaturalisation. This means stripping a person of their U.S. citizenship if they lied to get it. This news has created a lot of talk across the entire country.
The Minnesota Daycare Fraud Scandal
At the center of this story is a massive fraud case in Minnesota. Federal officials say over $250 million was stolen from programs for kids. These programs were meant to feed hungry children during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, prosecutors say the money was used for personal gain instead. Out of 86 people charged in this case, 78 are Somali Americans.
Furthermore, some officials believe the total fraud in the state could be as high as $9 billion. This has led to a “top priority” investigation by the current administration. They want to find every person who helped steal this tax money.
What is Denaturalisation?
Denaturalisation is a very rare and serious legal process. It is when the U.S. government takes back the citizenship of a person. Under the law, this can only happen if a person committed fraud to get their passport. For example, if someone lied about their past or used a fake name.
Press Secretary Leavitt called it a “tool at the president’s disposal.” Usually, only a few dozen of these cases happen every year. However, the Trump administration wants to increase this number significantly. They are looking at people who were already convicted of serious financial crimes.
A “Whole-of-Government” Effort
The White House is not working alone on this big project. Karoline Leavitt described it as a “whole-of-government” effort. This means many different groups are working together at the same time. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is conducting door-to-door audits in Minnesota. The Department of State and the Justice Department are also heavily involved.
FBI Director Kash Patel said his team has “surged” resources to the area. They are executing search warrants and using subpoenas to find hidden money. This shows how serious the government is about cleaning up the fraud.
Auditing Somali American Immigration Cases
The administration is now auditing thousands of past immigration files. They are specifically looking at cases involving people of Somali origin. The goal is to find any “willful misrepresentation” made during their naturalization. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed this audit in a recent statement. She said that procuring citizenship on a fraudulent basis is clear grounds for revocation.
This means even if a crime happened years ago, it could still be used now. The government wants to ensure that the immigration system has “total integrity.” This wide audit has many people in the local community feeling very nervous.
Calls for Mass Deportations
Some leaders in Congress are calling for even tougher actions. Minnesota Representative Tom Emmer has been very vocal on social media. He posted that any Somali American convicted of fraud should be “sent home.” He argued that if they are citizens, their status should be revoked immediately.
“If we need to change the law to do that, I will,” Emmer stated. He believes that those who exploit government programs do not deserve to stay. This “send them home” rhetoric has sparked a very heated debate. It highlights the growing tension between the government and immigrant advocacy groups.
Impact on the Somali American Community
The Somali American community in Minnesota is the largest in the United States. There are about 80,000 residents of Somali descent living in the state. Many of them are hard-working citizens who have lived there for decades. Community leaders say they feel like they are being “unfairly targeted” by the White House. Jaylani Hussein, a leader for CAIR Minnesota, called the rhetoric “racist.”
He believes the fraud cases are being used as an excuse to hurt the whole community. People are worried that minor mistakes from years ago could now cost them their homes. They are calling for “due process” and fair treatment for everyone.
The Legal Hurdles to Revoking Citizenship
Despite the tough talk, stripping citizenship is not a simple task. The White House cannot just take away a passport with a single signature. Every case must go through a federal court first. A judge must see “clear and convincing evidence” that the person committed fraud. This process can take many months or even years to complete.
Some legal experts say that revoking citizenship for a crime after becoming a citizen is very hard. They point to the 14th Amendment, which protects the rights of all citizens. These legal barriers mean that large-scale deportations may not happen as quickly as some hope.
Freezing Federal Funds to Minnesota
The government has also taken other steps to stop the fraud. On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) took a bold step. They froze all federal child care payments to the state of Minnesota. This means the state will not get new money until they can prove it is safe. Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill said they are setting “new nationwide requirements.”
These rules will require photos and receipts before any money is sent to a state. This “financial freeze” is a way to force the state government to fix its systems. It shows that the fraud has caused a major lack of trust. Somali Americans
A Volatile Start to 2026 Somali Americans
In conclusion, the White House’s focus on denaturalising Somali Americans marks a major shift. The $250 million fraud scandal has led to a massive federal crackdown. While the government says it is “fixing the system,” many see it as a “targeted attack.” With door-to-door audits and frozen funds, the tension in Minnesota is very high. Somali Americans
The legal battles over these cases will likely last for a long time. As the audits continue, the whole world is watching how the U.S. handles its citizens. The year 2026 is starting with big questions about the value of a passport. Somali Americans
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