Minnesota
Report revives claims Minnesota fraud funded terrorism. Here’s what we know.
Minnesota’s Republican Congressional delegation and state lawmakers are calling on the U.S. Attorney’s office to investigate whether fraud schemes helped fund terrorism after President Donald Trump pledged that he would end temporary legal protections for Somali immigrants in Minnesota.
Trump’s move and GOP calls for an investigation come on the heels of a report from a conservative think tank alleging that some of the millions of dollars stolen from the state through fraud ended up in the hands of the Somalia-based Islamist terrorist group al-Shabaab.
It’s not the first time there have been allegations of a link between fraud in Minnesota and terrorism.
The same premise was at the center of a similar 2018 local news story that spurred action at the state Capitol and a nonpartisan state investigation that found no definitive connection between fraud and terrorism.
Citing unnamed sources and a former counterterrorism investigator, writers for City Journal, a publication of the Manhattan Institute, claim that some money sent back from Minnesota to Somalia through informal networks likely would have benefited the group, which controls large swaths of Somalia.
The report shows no definite link between hundreds of millions of dollars in fraud this decade in Minnesota and terrorist groups, though it asserts that al-Shabaab received cuts of money transferred from the U.S. to Somalia through the hawala system, an informal money transfer network used by the Somali diaspora.
City Journal’s source for this claim is Glenn Kerns, a former detective with the Seattle Police Department, who investigated hawala networks while working with a federal terrorism task force in the 2010s.
In 2018, then-retired Kerns shared similar findings with KMSP-TV, or Fox 9 — day care fraud in Minnesota and money transferred to areas controlled by al-Shabaab in Somalia. An agency whistleblower claimed $100 million in stolen tax dollars had gone overseas.
Legislative auditor investigation in 2018
A subsequent report by the nonpartisan Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor couldn’t substantiate claims that money went to terrorist groups overseas. The 2019 report found fraud, though there was no evidence that it reached $100 million.
OLA did acknowledge, however, that money obtained through fraud sent overseas could end up going to terrorists.
“We found that federal regulatory and law enforcement agencies are concerned that terrorist organizations in certain countries, including Somalia, obtain and use money sent from the United States by immigrants and refugees to family and friends in those countries,” the report said.
City Journal authors Ryan Thorpe and Christopher Rufo, a conservative activist and author who rose to prominence as an opponent of critical race theory in American education, cite Kerns’ work as a piece of evidence that money continues to fund the Somali terrorist group, as well as two unnamed sources.
For every dollar that is transferred from the Twin Cities back to Somalia, “Al-Shabaab is . . . taking a cut of it,” said one unnamed source described as a former member of the Minneapolis Joint Terrorism Task Force.
A second unnamed source claimed “the largest funder of Al-Shabaab is the Minnesota taxpayer.” It’s unclear, though, how much money the group might have received.
GOP calls for investigation
Members of the Minnesota Senate and House Republican caucuses sent letters to U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen on Monday asking Minnesota federal prosecutors to investigate the allegations. Minnesota U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach, U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad and U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber sent a similar letter on Friday.
Dozens of fraud cases have emerged in Minnesota in recent years, with much of it centered at the state’s Department of Human Services. Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson estimated in July that fraud in the state could top $1 billion.
In the largest case, federal prosecutors allege a scheme centered around the nonprofit Feeding Our Future defrauded the government of $250 million in federal funds from a pandemic-era meal program. In that case, the money was administered by the Minnesota Department of Education.
“The notion that these dollars could be flowing to foreign terrorist organizations adds a truly disturbing additional element,” state House Republicans said in their letter. “If confirmed to be true, immediate action must be taken at the state and federal level to crack down on remittances and other payments that are making their way to terrorist organizations.”
DFL leaders condemn Trump’s move on protections
The office of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said it has not heard anything about the allegations from state or federal law enforcement. The U.S. Attorney’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
Democratic-Farmer-Labor leaders have condemned Trump’s pledge to revoke temporary protective status for Somali migrants in Minnesota, claiming the administration was using the report to pursue deportations as part of an anti-Muslim and xenophobic agenda.
Dozens, including U.S. Reps. Betty McCollum, Ilhan Omar, DFL legislators and activists gathered at the Capitol on Monday to address reporters. Omar said incidents of fraud could not be blamed on the Somali community at large.
“There is not a single (piece of) evidence that the president or his cronies have put forth that there are any single resource from taxpayers in Minnesota that has gone to aid and abet terrorism,” she said. “That language puts the lives of Somalis not only in Minnesota but across the country in danger. And if the president believed that and he had evidence, he would take people to court.”
A little over 700 Somalis have temporary protective status nationwide, with around 400 in Minnesota. The status protects immigrants from deportation. There are more than 80,000 Somalis in Minnesota, the most of any state.
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FIRST ON FOX: ICE officials on Saturday released a shocking list of the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal immigrants arrested during their recent surge in the sanctuary state of Minnesota, including child rapists and nearly a dozen killers.
ICE told Fox News the criminal illegal immigrants were roaming freely in Minnesota prior to their recent arrest, and that they are the type of people Democratic politicians and activists are referring to as their “neighbors,” as they attempt to interfere with ICE.
“Regardless of staged political theatrics, ICE is going to continue to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota and elsewhere,” ICE director Todd M. Lyons wrote in a statement. “Some of these criminal aliens have had final orders of removal for 30 years, but they’ve been free to terrorize Minnesotans.”
Anti-immigration enforcement agitators clash with federal law enforcement outside an ICE facility in Minneapolis, Minn. (Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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“ICE’s arrests prevent recidivism and make communities safer, but it feels like local politicians want to ignore that part and drum up discontent rather than protect their own constituents,” he continued.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reacted to the arrests on X Saturday, calling the convicts “sick people.”
“This is why we have ICE Agents,” Leavitt wrote in the post. “May God Bless them for their thankless work to protect American communities from these sick people.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a photo of a plane on X Saturday captioned, “Lawbreakers going wheels up in Minneapolis.”
Some of the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal immigrants arrested in Minnesota include:
Sriudorn Phaivan, a Laotian illegal immigrant, was convicted of strong-arm sodomy of a boy and strong-arm sodomy of a girl. (ICE)
Sriudorn Phaivan
Sriudorn Phaivan, a Laotian illegal immigrant, was convicted of strong-arm sodomy of a boy and strong-arm sodomy of a girl, another aggravated sex offense, nine counts of larceny, unauthorized use of a vehicle, four counts of fraud, vehicle theft, two counts of drug possession, obstructing justice, possession of stolen property, receiving stolen property, burglary and check forgery.
He also has pending charges for two counts of receiving stolen property, flight to avoid prosecution or confinement and burglary.
Phaivan has had a deportation order since 2018.
Tou Vang, a Laotian illegal immigrant, was convicted of sexual assault and sodomy of a girl under the age of 13, and procuring a child for prostitution. (ICE)
Tou Vang
Tou Vang, a Laotian illegal immigrant, was convicted of sexual assault and sodomy of a girl under the age of 13, and procuring a child for prostitution.
Vang has had a deportation order since 2006.
Chong Vue, a Laotian illegal immigrant, was convicted of the strong-arm rape of a 12-year-old girl, and kidnapping a child with intent to sexually assault her. (ICE)
Chong Vue
Chong Vue, a Laotian illegal immigrant, was convicted of the strong-arm rape of a 12-year-old girl, and kidnapping a child with intent to sexually assault her.
Vue has had a deportation order since 2004.
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Ge Yang, a Laotian illegal immigrant, was convicted of strong-arm rape, aggravated assault with a weapon, and strangulation. (ICE)
Ge Yang
Ge Yang, a Laotian illegal immigrant, was convicted of strong-arm rape, aggravated assault with a weapon, and strangulation.
Yang has had a deportation order since 2012.
Pao Choua Xiong, a Laotian illegal immigrant, was convicted of rape and child fondling. (ICE)
Pao Choua Xiong
Pao Choua Xiong, a Laotian illegal immigrant, was convicted of rape and child fondling.
Xiong has had a deportation order since 2003.
Kou Lor, a Laotian illegal immigrant, was convicted of rape, rape with a weapon, and sexual assault. (ICE)
Kou Lor
Kou Lor, a Laotian illegal immigrant, was convicted of rape, rape with a weapon, and sexual assault.
Lor has had a deportation order since 1996.
Hernan Cortes-Valencia, a criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico, was ordered to leave the country in 2016 and has been convicted of sexual assault against a child, sexual assault-carnal abuse and four DUIs. (ICE)
Hernan Cortes-Valencia
Hernan Cortes-Valencia, a Mexican illegal immigrant, was convicted of sexual assault of a child and DUI.
Cortes-Valencia has had a deportation order since 2016.
Abdirashid Adosh Elmi, a Somalian illegal immigrant, was convicted of homicide. (ICE)
Abdirashid Adosh Elmi
Abdirashid Adosh Elmi, a Somalian illegal immigrant, was convicted of homicide.
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Gilberto Salguero Landaverde, a criminal illegal immigrant from El Salvador, has been convicted of three counts of homicide. (ICE)
Gilberto Salguero Landaverde
Gilberto Salguero Landaverde, a Salvadoran illegal immigrant, was convicted of three counts of homicide.
Landaverde has had a deportation order since June 2025.
Gabriel Figueroa Gama, a Mexican illegal immigrant, was convicted of homicide. (ICE)
Gabriel Figueroa Gama
Gabriel Figueroa Gama, a Mexican illegal immigrant, was convicted of homicide.
Gama was previously deported in 2002.
Galuak Michael Rotgai, a criminal illegal immigrant from Sudan, has been convicted of homicide and assault. (ICE)
Galuak Michael Rotgai
Galuak Michael Rotgai, a Sudanese illegal immigrant, was convicted of homicide.
Thai Lor, a criminal illegal immigrant from Laos, has been convicted of two counts of homicide. (ICE)
Thai Lor
Thai Lor, a Laotian illegal immigrant, was convicted of two counts of homicide.
Lor has had a deportation order since 2009.
Mariama Sia Kanu, a criminal illegal immigrant from Sierra Leone, has been convicted of two counts of homicide, four DUIs, three counts of larceny and burglary. (ICE)
Mariana Sia Kanu
Mariana Sia Kanu, an illegal immigrant from Sierra Leone, was convicted of two counts of homicide.
Kanu has had a deportation order since 2022.
Aldrin Guerrero Munoz, a criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico, has been convicted of homicide and assault.
Aldrin Guerrero Munoz
Aldrin Guerrero Munoz, a Mexican illegal immigrant, was convicted of homicide.
Munoz has had a deportation order since 2015.
Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed, a Somalian illegal immigrant, was convicted of manslaughter.
Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed
Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed, a Somalian illegal immigrant, was convicted of manslaughter.
Ahmed has had a deportation order since 2022.
Mongong Kual Maniang Deng, a criminal illegal immigrant from Sudan, has been convicted of attempt to commit homicide, weapon possession and DUI.
Mongong Dual Maniang Deng
Mongong Dual Maniang Deng, a Sudanese illegal immigrant, was convicted of attempt to commit homicide, weapon possession and DUI.
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Aler Gomez Lucas, a criminal illegal immigrant from Guatemala, has been convicted of negligent homicide with a vehicle and DUI.
Aler Gomez Lucas
Aler Gomez Lucas, a Guatemalan illegal immigrant, was convicted of negligent homicide with a vehicle and DUI.
Lucas has had a deportation order since 2022.
Shwe Htoo, a criminal illegal immigrant from Burma, has been convicted of negligent homicide with a weapon. (ICE)
Shwe Htoo
Shwe Htoo, a Burmese illegal immigrant, was convicted of negligent homicide.
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Candle shoppers are still melting down over some of the offerings in Bath & Body Works’ “Perfect Pairings” collection − in particular, the Pizza & Ranch candle, which promises notes of “gooey cheese, crispy pepperonis and ranch.” The fragrance, released in December as one of the “fun and unexpected” fragrances for Candle Day 2025, brought reactions that border on the unprintable, including one that referenced a Diaper Genie pail. Other scents were Coffee & Donuts, Chips & Salsa and Popcorn & Slushie. As of Jan. 5, only the Chips & Salsa candle was available on the company’s website, and alas, there was no word on restocking.
The great Oscars countdown has begun
Roll out the red carpets and chill the champagne: Hollywood’s race for the Oscars kicked off Jan. 4 with the Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California, where “Sinners” and “Frankenstein” led the field with four wins each. “One Battle After Another” won best picture; for best actor and actress, Timothée Chalamet of “Marty Supreme” and Jessie Buckley of “Hamnet” took home the trophies. Next up on the watch list: the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11. Hollywood’s biggest night, the Academy Awards, comes March 15.
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Protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are continuing across the Triangle this week, fueled by anger and fear after a woman was shot and killed during an immigration enforcement operation Wednesday in Minnesota.
Adali Abeldanez, owner of Moroleon Supermarket in Durham, said fear is impacting daily life and local businesses, including his own.
“People are still stressed and worried,” he said.
Abeldanez said he has seen a noticeable change in customer behavior since ICE operations intensified. While his store has offered delivery services for years, he noticed requests surged in November, when ICE was in the state, and have remained high.
“That uptick in delivery – do you believe that’s directly tied to people’s fear about ICE?” WRAL asked Abeldanez.
“Oh yeah, for sure,” he said.
He said some store clients are afraid to leave their homes and are relying on organized deliveries instead. Abeldanez said his wife is undocumented and frightened, a feeling he said is widely shared in the immigrant community.
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Abeldanez believes ICE agents need more training and greater accountability.
“They’re dealing with people — human beings. It’s life,” he said. “The law should be enforced, but obviously with due process and taking into consideration humanity, being humane.”
He also criticized what he described as racial profiling; he said agents approach people in public spaces based on appearance rather than targeted investigations.
“They should have some kind of plan to know where to go, who to look for, and not just randomly pick people,” Abeldanez said.
Despite his concerns, Abeldanez said he felt encouraged by this week’s protests, as long as they remain peaceful.
“As long as it’s something peaceful, I feel proud,” he said. “Seeing people protest in favor of protecting the immigrant community — I think that’s awesome.”
But while both sides believe peaceful protesting is important, the divide is regarding ICE’s actions.
Matt Mercer, communications director for the North Carolina Republican Party, said the Minnesota shooting involved an agent acting in self-defense, citing video evidence and injuries the agent sustained.
“There’s a human element where someone loses their life, which you never want to see,” Mercer said. “But the video speaks for itself.”
Mercer said recent confrontations with ICE agents are not peaceful protests but attempts to obstruct federal law enforcement.
“If you wish to protest, do that in ways you can traditionally protest,” Mercer said. “Surrounding agents, obstructing vehicles or creating chaos is not legitimate protest.”
The Minnesota incident remains under investigation. Meanwhile, protests in the Triangle are expected to continue, including one Friday night in Durham.
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