Federal officials revealed in September that nearly half of all immigrants in the Minneapolis area have committed some form of immigration fraud, citing sham marriages, falsified death certificates, and other schemes. The announcement drew renewed attention to Minnesota’s Somali population, which numbers around 100,000 and has long faced scrutiny. A 2008 State Department probe found that 80% of claims in a Somali family reunification program were invalid. Critics argue the problem has persisted for decades, pointing to high-profile controversies surrounding Rep. Ilhan Omar, who has faced allegations of marrying her brother to secure immigration benefits — accusations she has denied but never fully explained.

Fraud allegations extend beyond immigration. Somali-linked defendants have been implicated in the Feeding Our Future scandal, the largest COVID-19 fraud in the nation, with more than $250 million stolen. Prosecutors have also uncovered extensive Medicaid fraud schemes that could amount to billions in taxpayer losses, intensifying concerns about systemic abuse.