December 16, 2025
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Feds to review Minnesota benefits programs over fraud

Federal officials have announced a targeted review of Minnesota benefits programs amid concerns about fraud in unemployment and nutrition assistance. As part of that review, the U.S. Department of Labor is sending an on‑site team to investigate potential unemployment insurance fraud.

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📌 Key Facts

  • The U.S. Department of Labor is sending an on-site team to Minnesota.
  • The team will investigate potential unemployment insurance (UI) fraud in Minnesota's benefits programs.
  • The deployment represents a federal review of Minnesota's benefits programs related to unemployment claims.
  • This action was reported by Alphanews on 2025-12-16T18:12:39+00:00.
  • Alphanews published the report under the headline: "Department of Labor sends team to Minnesota to investigate potential unemployment fraud."

📊 Relevant Data

The total fraud in Minnesota's social services programs is estimated at $822 million, with potential to exceed $1 billion as investigations continue.

Fraud in Minnesota: Detailing the nearly $1 billion in schemes — FOX 9

70.4% of working-age Somali adults (ages 18-64) in Minnesota are employed.

Somali population - Cultural communities - Minnesota Compass — Minnesota Compass

55.8% of the Somali population in Minnesota is foreign-born.

Somali population - Cultural communities - Minnesota Compass — Minnesota Compass

36.6% of Somalis aged 5 and older in Minnesota speak English less than 'very well'.

Somali population - Cultural communities - Minnesota Compass — Minnesota Compass

Minnesota became a hub for Somali immigrants starting in the 1990s due to refugee resettlement programs, available jobs in meatpacking and manufacturing, and established community networks.

How Minnesota became a hub for Somali immigrants in the U.S. — NPR

📰 Source Timeline (2)

Follow how coverage of this story developed over time

December 16, 2025
6:12 PM
Department of Labor sends team to Minnesota to investigate potential unemployment fraud
Alphanews by Anthony Gockowski
New information:
  • U.S. Department of Labor is sending an on‑site team to Minnesota to investigate potential unemployment (UI) fraud.
December 15, 2025
10:31 PM
Feds announce ‘targeted review’ of Minnesota unemployment, nutrition fraud
FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul by Nick.Longworth@fox.com (Nick Longworth)