White House Considers Revoking Citizenship for Somalis Accused of Fraud

After the Social Assistance Scandal

President Donald Trump has launched a fresh assault on the Somali American community, with the White House announcing that the administration is reviewing plans to revoke citizenship for those convicted of fraud. These statements were made on Wednesday, just a day after the Trump administration froze $185 million in federal grants for child care amidst allegations of fraud at Somali-run kindergartens in Minneapolis.

Controversial Statements by Trump

Trump posted on his social media platform, claiming that "a large part of the fraud in Minnesota, up to 90%, is caused by people who have come illegally from Somalia." He also attacked Somali-American Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, referring to her as "one of many swindlers." In his view, Somalis should be sent back to Somalia, which he dubs "the most corrupt country on earth."

Reactions from the Community

White House representative Karoline Leavitt mentioned in an interview that the administration is "analyzing" the possibility of revoking citizenship for those convicted of fraud, adding that this measure remains "a tool available to the president." Throughout his political career, Trump has consistently demonized immigrant communities and has recently intensified law enforcement actions in Minnesota, launching wide-ranging audits on legal immigration.

Criticism and Investigations

The law theoretically allows for citizenship revocation, but it is rarely practiced and requires clear evidence of fraud. Trump’s recent campaign has been fueled by a viral video alleging that Somali-run kindergartens in Minneapolis committed fraud worth up to $100 million. However, a recent investigation revealed that the majority of these kindergartens had active licenses and there was no recorded evidence of fraud.