Washington: The US government is considering the possibility of revoking citizenship from Somalis convicted of fraud, the White House announced. This development comes as part of a broader effort by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State, which are actively evaluating this option, according to spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. During an interview with Fox News, Leavitt confirmed that the administration is prepared to use denaturalization as a measure available to the president and the secretary of state.
According to Anadolu Agency, this initiative is being treated as a "whole-of-government" effort and is identified as a top priority for the administration. The Justice Department is actively involved, executing search warrants and subpoenas as part of the effort. Leavitt accused Minnesota Governor Tim Walz of allowing fraud to occur over many years, stating that people will face arrest as a consequence. The Department of Homeland Security is conducting door-to-door investigations while continuing deportations of undocumented immigrants in Minnesota.
In a related development, President Donald Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his views on the situation. He attributed a significant portion of the alleged fraud cases in Minnesota to immigrants from Somalia, calling for their deportation. Trump also made unsubstantiated claims about Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar and criticized Somalia as a nation.
In a parallel move, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer announced a forthcoming hearing to examine alleged fraud and misuse of federal funds in Minnesota's social services programs. Governor Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison have been invited to testify before the committee.
The Justice Department recently charged 98 individuals in a comprehensive fraud investigation in Minnesota, with 85 identified as being of Somali descent. FBI Director Kash Patel reported progress in investigating a substantial fraud operation that allegedly exploited federal food aid programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reacting to these allegations, the US Health and Human Services Department decided to halt all federal child care funding to Minnesota. Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill and Assistant Secretary Alex Adams announced new nationwide requirements for child care payments, necessitating documentation and photographic proof before disbursing funds to states.