Minnesota fraud prompts denaturization review of Somali immigrants

A massive fraud scandal linked to Minnesota’s taxpayer-funded child care programs, Medicaid and social services — potentially involving billions of dollars in suspicious billing — is prompting renewed scrutiny of whether some naturalized Americans obtained U.S. citizenship under false pretenses and whether denaturalization might now be used more aggressively.

The fallout has already led the Department of Health and Human Services to freeze some child care payments in Minnesota, citing allegations of fraud involving child care providers over the past decade.

Immigration authorities have confirmed they are examining whether fraud uncovered in Minnesota could provide a legal basis to revoke U.S. citizenship from naturalized individuals who hid or misrepresented material facts during the immigration process.

Denaturalization is limited by law, requires individualized civil court procedures, and has historically been used sparingly.

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Lawyer David Schoen said it remained legally viable, but in extraordinary circumstances.

He said on Fox News that the process would likely trigger “significant” legal challenges, but that “it’s legally possible.” In extraordinary circumstances, we should know the facts.”

Minnesota’s Quality Learning Center has been found at the center of an alleged child care fraud scandal in the state. (Madelin Fuerste / Fox News Channel)

Schoen pointed out that immigration law already provides clearer mechanisms for deporting noncitizens, particularly legal permanent residents who violate the law, describing denaturalization as a far more extraordinary step requiring careful consideration of the facts.

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on “Fox & Friends” that the administration “is not afraid to use denaturalization,” and confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State Department are “studying” whether citizenship could be revoked for people of Somali descent as part of the Minnesota fraud investigation.

DHS confirmed that it is actively reviewing immigration and naturalization cases involving migrants from 19 countries of concern, including Somalia, to determine whether individuals obtained U.S. citizenship through fraud that may warrant denaturalization.

“Under U.S. law, if an individual obtains citizenship on a fraudulent basis, that constitutes grounds for denaturalization,” DHS Deputy Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to Fox News.

The review focuses on whether fraud occurred during the immigration or naturalization process, including misrepresentations or marriage fraud used to obtain legal status or citizenship. DHS emphasized that denaturalization is governed by strict legal standards and only applies in limited circumstances.

President Donald Trump weighed in on the Minnesota investigations Wednesday, sharply criticizing the state’s handling of fraud and linking the scandal to illegal immigration in an article in Truth Social.

“Much of the fraud in Minnesota, as much as 90%, is caused by people entering our country illegally from Somalia,” Trump wrote.

“Thugs like this can only harm the greatness of our country,” he added. “Send them back where they came from, Somalia, perhaps the worst and most corrupt country in the world.”

Federal prosecutors say their investigation expanded into suspicious billing in 14 Medicaid-funded programs, where providers billed about $18 billion since 2018. A preliminary assessment cited by prosecutors suggests “half or more” of that amount could be fraudulent.

The expanded investigation builds on a years-long scrutiny of Minnesota following some of the largest benefits fraud cases ever prosecuted in the state, including a pandemic food aid program involving about $250 million in alleged losses. Federal officials say the cases revealed systemic oversight weaknesses that may extend across multiple aid programs.

Quality Learning Center director Ibrahim Ali has denied any fraud, despite a recent report by independent journalist Nick Shirley. (Pool)

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Minnesota is home to one of the largest Somali communities in the country. Estimates based on the Census Bureau suggest that approximately 260,000 people of Somali descent live in the United States and nearly 100,000 in Minnesota.

Republican lawmakers argue that fraud of this magnitude raises broader questions about whether those involved were truthful throughout the immigration process — and whether citizenship should protect offenders who obtained it through deception.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., called for the deportation of all Somali immigrants involved in fraud cases in Minnesota.

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“I have three words regarding Somalis who have committed fraud against American taxpayers: send them home. If they are here illegally, deport them immediately; if they are naturalized citizens, revoke their citizenship and expel them promptly afterward. If we have to change the law to do this, I will,” he wrote on X.

The renewed focus on denaturalization also aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration to tighten the naturalization process itself.

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow has previously criticized the current citizenship test as “too soft,” calling for deeper civic knowledge and more rigorous assessment of English throughout the naturalization interview.

Historically, the federal government has processed only a small number of denaturalization cases each year. Civil liberties groups warn that expanding its use could raise due process concerns, setting the stage for a possible legal battle.