Viral video reignites scrutiny over daycare centers and public funds fraud
vThe Trump administration has recently seized on a large-scale public benefit fraud case in Minnesota to carry out immigration raids and push for stricter policies affecting the state’s Somali migrant community.
Federal prosecutors have filed charges against 98 individuals accused of embezzling public funds, with 85 defendants reportedly of Somali descent, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The scheme allegedly diverted $300 million in public grants meant to provide free meals to children, but prosecutors say many of the meals never existed. Fifty-seven individuals have already been convicted in connection with the fraud.
Political Tensions Over Accountability
Republican officials and federal prosecutors have accused local Democratic authorities of ignoring warnings about the fraud due to the involvement of Minnesota’s Somali community—the largest in the U.S., with approximately 80,000 members.
- State Representative Kristin Robbins, a Republican and gubernatorial candidate, claimed that whistleblowers were discouraged from raising concerns for fear of being labeled racist or Islamophobic, or for politically disadvantaging the ruling Democratic Party.
- Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic incumbent, and Vice President Kamala Harris, his running mate in 2024, have rejected these allegations.
While the case first came to light in 2022, prosecutors intensified their efforts in 2025, bringing renewed attention to politically sensitive revelations.
Republican Response and Media Spotlight
- State House Speaker Lisa Demuth, another Republican gubernatorial candidate, said the case is “finally getting the attention it deserves.”
- Right-leaning content creator Nick Shirley reignited public interest over the holidays with a viral video claiming daycare centers were siphoning public funds.
The case has become a flashpoint for debates over immigration, race, and political accountability, highlighting the intersection of criminal investigations and partisan politics in Minnesota.