Somali-run Nokomis Daycare vandalized and burglarized as Trump administration freezes Minnesota child-care funds
Somali-run Nokomis Daycare in Minneapolis was reportedly broken into and vandalized in a burglary. The incident occurred as the Trump administration has frozen Minnesota’s child‑care payments and stepped up federal fraud scrutiny, and operators say they feel singled out, deny wrongdoing and point to their inspection history.
📌 Key Facts
- Alphanews reports the Somali-run Nokomis Daycare was vandalized and burglarized while the Trump administration had frozen all child-care payments to Minnesota.
- The report says the federal government has ramped up fraud scrutiny of Minnesota child-care providers at the same time as the payment freeze.
- Coverage links the Nokomis incident to national-level political rhetoric and Trump administration policy moves, not solely to a viral video or state inspections.
- Somali daycare operators said they feel singled out by the federal freeze and increased scrutiny.
- Operators denied any wrongdoing and emphasized their history of inspections when responding to the freeze and allegations.
📊 Relevant Data
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued waivers that relaxed requirements for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), such as allowing off-site meal distribution, which were exploited by defendants in Minnesota's Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, the largest COVID-19-related fraud in the country.
Minnesota Department of Education: Oversight of Feeding Our Future — Office of the Legislative Auditor, State of Minnesota
Fears of being accused of racism or racial bias led to reduced oversight and reluctance to scrutinize programs serving the Somali community in Minnesota, providing cover for fraudsters and contributing to systemic lapses in social services programs.
How fears of being labeled 'racist' helped 'provide cover' for the exploding Minnesota fraud scandal — Fox News
A federal audit by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that Minnesota's Department of Human Services has inadequate oversight in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), lacking requirements for accurate attendance documentation, which increases the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse.
Federal audit reveals oversight flaws in Minnesota's child care payments — FOX 9
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Frames the Nokomis Daycare burglary explicitly as occurring while the Trump administration has frozen all child‑care payments to Minnesota and ramped up federal fraud scrutiny.
- Further connects the incident to national‑level political rhetoric and policy moves (Trump administration actions) rather than just to the viral video and state inspections.
- Adds additional reaction/context from Somali daycare operators about feeling singled out during the federal freeze while denying wrongdoing and stressing their inspection history.