The Trump administration is actively reviewing cases for the potential denaturalization and revocation of U.S. citizenship for people of Somali descent who have been convicted of fraud in the massive Minnesota social services controversy. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State Department are currently “looking at” revoking the citizenship of those found guilty in the sweeping federal probe, as per The Hill.
This is a huge deal, and it definitely signals a major shift in how the administration is approaching immigration enforcement and legal status. If you secure citizenship through fraudulent means, that’s legally grounds for denaturalization. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed this legal basis, stating that “under U.S. law, if an individual procures citizenship on a fraudulent basis, that is grounds for denaturalization.”
The fraud scandal has been simmering in Minnesota for years, but it has recently exploded into national headlines. The investigation centers on a massive scheme involving the misuse of federal funds meant for feeding children. While the convicted ringleader of the “Feeding our Future” scheme, Aimee Bock, is white, the vast majority of those charged are of Somali descent. Specifically, 85 of the 98 individuals charged by the Department of Justice since 2022 are of Somali descent.
Now the administration is moving beyond rhetoric to actively pursue the revocation of citizenship
It’s important to remember the sheer scale of the Somali community in the U.S. As of 2024, more than 240,000 people of Somali descent live here, with over 100,000 residing in Minnesota alone. This latest action follows a period of intense rhetoric from the administration regarding the Somali population in Minnesota. President Trump has repeatedly attacked the community while discussing the fraud scandal, even ending temporary legal protections for Somali residents just last month, citing the controversy.
Earlier this month, the president made some extremely strong comments against Somali migrants, claiming they “are completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota.” He also called Rep. Ilhan Omar, a U.S. citizen who fled Somalia amid civil war decades ago, “garbage” during a Cabinet meeting. Rep. Omar responded to the president’s attacks on X, stating that President Trump’s “obsession with me is creepy.”
The president doubled down on his criticism in a social media post, claiming that up to 90% of the Minnesota fraud was caused by people who came into the country “illegally, from Somalia.” He didn’t mince words, adding, “Lowlifes like this can only be a liability to our Country’s greatness.” President Trump concluded his post by demanding, “Send them back from where they came, Somalia, perhaps the worst, and most corrupt, country on earth.”
Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) also joined the push, calling for the deportation of all Somalis linked to the fraud in Minnesota. We’ve seen other moves recently, including the administration beginning to reexamine green cards linked to 19 countries, including Somalia. This review started after two West Virginia National Guard members were shot outside a metro station near the White House by an Afghan national who had entered the country via a program for those who aided the U.S. military.
The Minnesota scandal gained huge national attention this week after a video about the issue by an independent journalist gained hundreds of millions of views online, drawing applause from Trump administration officials and leading to attacks on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s handling of the situation. , which is a significant legal escalation.
Published: Dec 31, 2025 05:00 pm