DHS: Half of probed MN immigration cases fraudulent
DHS says a targeted fraud‑detection operation in Minneapolis–Saint Paul found about half of the investigated immigration cases were fraudulent, spanning naturalization, H‑1B, marriage and Ukrainian humanitarian parole applications. The agency also cited more than 95,000 pending Minnesota immigration applications (about 6,500 tied to Somalia) but did not release underlying totals or any charging data; FOX 9 has requested records.
📌 Key Facts
- Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin: ~50% of investigated cases in a Twin Cities operation were fraudulent
- Case types reviewed included naturalization, H‑1B, marriage fraud and Ukrainian humanitarian parole
- DHS says MN has ~95,000 pending immigration applications, ~6,500 listing Somalia as origin; no detailed data or charges released
📊 Relevant Data
As of 2025, Minnesota is home to more than 107,000 people of Somali descent according to higher estimates from U.S. Census Bureau data.
Trump targeting Somali community: How many Somalis live in Minneapolis? — FOX 9
In 2022, 36.4% of the Somali population in Minnesota lived below the poverty line.
Somali population - Cultural communities - Minnesota Compass — Minnesota Compass
In 2022, 40.6% of Somali adults aged 25 and older in Minnesota had less than a high school education.
Somali population - Cultural communities - Minnesota Compass — Minnesota Compass
In fraud schemes targeting Minnesota's social services, including the Feeding Our Future program, federal prosecutors have convicted 59 people, largely from the Somali diaspora, involving more than $1 billion in defrauded taxpayer money.
How Fraud Swamped Minnesota’s Social Services System on Tim Walz’s Watch — The New York Times