DHS Reviews Citizenship of Migrants From 19 Countries for Fraud
DHS is reviewing immigration and naturalization cases for migrants from 19 "countries of concern," including Somalia, to determine whether citizenship was obtained by fraud and could warrant denaturalization, a step the White House and DHS say is legally available. The review is tied to a sprawling Minnesota fraud probe—DOJ cites 98 charged, 64 convictions and 85 defendants identified as of Somali descent—and is framed by DOJ as part of broader enforcement gains with more actions planned in 2026, though legal experts say denaturalization would be reserved for extraordinary cases and likely face significant court challenges; President Trump has publicly and without evidence blamed Somali migrants for much of the alleged fraud.
📌 Key Facts
- DHS is reviewing immigration and naturalization cases involving migrants from 19 'countries of concern,' including Somalia, to determine whether any obtained U.S. citizenship through fraud that could warrant denaturalization; DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said fraudulent procurement of citizenship is legal grounds for denaturalization.
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is 'not afraid to use denaturalization' and confirmed DHS and the State Department are 'looking at' whether citizenship could be revoked in connection with individuals of Somali origin in the Minnesota fraud probe.
- The review is linked to a massive Minnesota fraud scandal tied to daycare, Medicaid and social‑services programs; prosecutors are examining suspicious billing across 14 Medicaid‑funded programs that billed about $18 billion since 2018, and a preliminary assessment suggests 'half or more' could be suspicious.
- The Justice Department cited Minnesota social‑services fraud prosecutions as a flagship enforcement success, reporting 98 charged, 64 convictions and 85 defendants identified as of Somali descent, and framed the actions as part of 'restoring' law‑enforcement priorities under President Trump after the Biden era.
- DOJ signaled additional enforcement actions are planned in 2026 as part of escalated efforts against fraud and public corruption.
- President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social claiming, without providing evidence, that 'up to 90%' of the Minnesota fraud is caused by people who came illegally from Somalia and urged they be sent back to Somalia, which he described as 'perhaps the worst, and most corrupt, country on earth.'
- Attorney David Schoen said denaturalization is legally possible but would be reserved for 'extraordinary' circumstances, would likely face 'significant' court challenges, and that standard immigration law provides clearer mechanisms for dealing with noncitizens.
📊 Relevant Data
Approximately 58.2 percent of working-age Somali immigrants in Minnesota do not speak English very well, compared to virtually all native Minnesotans who do.
Somali Immigrants in Minnesota — Center for Immigration Studies
The average household size for Somali families in Minnesota is 3.90, compared to 2.25 for the general Minnesota population.
Key Housing Issues Facing Immigrant Communities in the Twin Cities — Minnesota Housing Partnership
Between 2017 and 2025, the US Justice Department filed just over 120 denaturalization cases, a significant increase from the average of 11 per year from 1990 to 2017.
Trump administration seeks sharp increase in denaturalization cases: NYT reports — Anadolu Agency
Investigations into Minnesota welfare fraud have revealed that some stolen funds were sent via hawala remittances to Somalia, with potential links to financing terrorist groups like Al-Shabaab.
Minnesota Welfare Fraud: Some Funds Went to Al-Shabaab — City Journal
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"A historically framed City Journal opinion arguing that modern birthright citizenship should be reconsidered and defended more like a conditional, civic status—contextualizing and approving recent DHS reviews of citizenship fraud as part of that necessary recalibration."
📰 Sources (3)
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox & Friends that the administration is 'not afraid to use denaturalization' and confirmed DHS and the State Department are 'looking at' whether citizenship could be revoked in connection with individuals of Somali origin in the Minnesota fraud probe.
- DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin provided an on‑the‑record statement that DHS is reviewing immigration and naturalization cases involving migrants from 19 'countries of concern,' including Somalia, to determine whether any obtained U.S. citizenship through fraud that could warrant denaturalization, explaining that fraudulent procurement of citizenship is legal grounds for denaturalization.
- The article explicitly links the 19‑country naturalization review to a 'massive fraud scandal' tied to Minnesota daycare, Medicaid and social‑services programs, with prosecutors now examining suspicious billing across 14 Medicaid‑funded programs that billed about $18 billion since 2018 and a preliminary assessment suggesting 'half or more' could be suspicious.
- President Donald Trump weighed in on Truth Social, asserting without evidence that 'up to 90%' of the Minnesota fraud is caused by people who came illegally from Somalia, calling them 'lowlifes' and saying they should be sent back to Somalia, which he described as 'perhaps the worst, and most corrupt, country on earth.'
- Attorney David Schoen, a former Trump impeachment lawyer, said in a Fox News interview that denaturalization is legally possible but would be reserved for 'extraordinary' circumstances and would likely face 'significant' court challenges, emphasizing that standard immigration law provides clearer mechanisms for dealing with noncitizens.
- DOJ’s new statement lists Minnesota social‑services fraud prosecutions as a flagship enforcement success, quantifying 98 charged, 64 convictions and 85 defendants identified as of Somali descent.
- The department links these cases to a broader narrative that it has 'restored' law enforcement priorities under President Trump after what it characterizes as Biden-era political weaponization.
- DOJ signals that additional enforcement actions are planned in 2026 as part of escalated efforts against fraud and public corruption.