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Expert reveals key factor that led to massive Minnesota fraud scheme
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An ongoing decline in American assimilation and a deep fear of being accused of racism were key factors in the massive fraud scheme in Minnesota that is now coming to light, according to an expert.
Minnesota is facing one of the largest social-services fraud scandals in U.S. history after federal prosecutors uncovered what they describe as “schemes stacked upon schemes” by Somali-run non-profits that siphoned hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars from child-nutrition and Medicaid housing programs.
Prosecutors have since charged more than 70 defendants, a large percentage of whom are members of Minnesota’s Somali community, securing dozens of convictions as new waves of indictments continue. The scandal has triggered state and federal investigations, congressional scrutiny, and calls for accountability over why warnings were missed and how the fraud was allowed to reach this scale.
Simon Hankinson, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, said that the decline in immigrant assimilation in America was key during an interview with Fox News Digital.
INSIDE ‘LITTLE MOGADISHU’: MINNESOTA’S BELEAGUERED SOMALI COMMUNITY UNDER A CLOUD OF FRAUD AND TRUMP ATTACKS
Two Somali women walk through a Minneapolis neighborhood as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appears in a split image. Lawmakers say the state’s oversight failures and political sensitivity around Somali-run nonprofits helped fuel the $1 billion welfare fraud scandal now under federal investigation. (Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Michael Dorgan/Fox News Digital)
“Assimilation is a two-sided coin. The pressure comes from inside, from you wanting to assimilate so you can make it in the new society, but it also comes from outside, where the society says, ‘Hey, we expect you to do this. We expect you, if you want a driver’s license, to be able to speak and read English at a basic level.’ We don’t do that anymore in America. We don’t we don’t really expect anything of our immigrants,” explained Hankinson.
“There are a lot of people who are American-born,” he went on, “who really don’t like this country and what it stands for. And so, they don’t think anyone else ought to accept it and adapt to it either.”
Hankinson noted that in no way can the fraud scheme be blamed writ large on the Minnesota-Somali community, which is estimated to have around 80,000 people. He said that those involved in the scam are a minority. However, the fact that the tight-knit community has by and large not assimilated into the broader American society and customs meant that many of the factors that could have exposed the scheme earlier were not there, according to Hankinson.
“When you come from a culture that provides you with nothing from the center, everything is family, everything is clan, everything is local, then it’s almost impossible for you to understand how a federal system would work. And if your neighbor came to you and said, ‘Hey, we got this cool thing going, if you just say your kid’s autistic, I’ll give you a thousand dollars a month.’ I mean, that’s a no-brainer for an awful lot of people,” he explained.
“Even if they thought that maybe it was wrong on some level, they might think, ‘Well, hang on, in my new country, maybe that’s frowned upon,’ they’re not going to rat out the clan member, the family member,” he added.
TIM WALZ CALLED OUT BY WASHINGTON POST FOR REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL
Men take part in a weekly Friday Jum’ah prayer session at Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center amid a reported ongoing federal immigration operation targeting the Somali community in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Dec. 5, 2025. (Tim Evans/Reuters)
That, combined with the existence of generous taxpayer-funded welfare programs and Minnesota being what Hankinson called a “high trust state,” made the state “ill-equipped to handle fraud.”
“In Minnesota, these programs were low-hanging fruit. They were so easy to fleece, it’s almost farcical,” said Hankinson. “So, the carrot is there to commit fraud, and there’s no stick.”
He pointed to one aspect of the scheme in which prosecutors say Minnesota’s Medicaid autism program was exploited by companies recruiting families, securing fraudulent diagnoses, and billing for therapy that never happened, draining millions from the program.
“That is outrageous. Somebody should have noticed at some point that, ‘Hang on a minute, why have the autism rates in Somali kids gone from one in a hundred to like one in three or whatever it was?’” he said. “There should have been some oversight, and there again you get into the whole American racial guilt, which is a particular issue that we have, where if you’re an unscrupulous scammer, you can always play the race card, and that will often get you away with it because people are terrified.”
“Nobody likes to be called a racist. It’s about one of the worst things you could be called,” he went on. “But I do think liberal Americans, in particular white liberal Americans, are more afraid of that label than anything else. So, some of these scammers, they threatened to make a fuss about being targeted on account of race or immigrant status or religion. And that probably contributed to state authorities being a little slower.”
ILHAN OMAR SAYS SHE’S FRUSTRATED SINCE SOMALIS ARE ALSO VICTIMS IN ‘FEEDING OUR FUTURE’ SCAM
Somali illegal alien Abdul Dahir Ibrahim, who was convicted of fraud, has been photographed with Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., (left) and Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (right). (ICE)
This dynamic has also played out on the national level. Following the Trump administration’s announcement of its crackdown on illegal immigrant Somalis in Minnesota, Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has accused it of “demonizing an entire group of people just by their race and their ethnicity.”
“I can’t take Tim Walz seriously, honestly, because he was the governor who was in charge while all this was happening. Where was he?” said Hankinson. “He was asleep at the switch.”
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“It’s not a question of scapegoating,” he said. “It’s a good thing to send a message, not to the Somali community per se, but to all of Minnesota and the rest of the 49 states that this is America, we have laws, we have rules. When you break those rules, you are going to get punished.”
Hankinson added that ultimately, he hopes to see many Somalis joining in the effort to crack down on the minority involved in fraud so that they can “give their community the reputation that it deserves.”
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Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal throws vs Jahmai Jones in simulated game
Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal faces Jahmai Jones in a simulated game Monday, June 1, 2026, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Almost every Detroit Tigers hitter looks improved through three games in June, but Dillon Dinger continues to go above and beyond. He put the Tigers on his back for a sweep of one of MLB’s best teams.
The Tigers scored in each of the first four innings en route to a 7-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, June 3, in the finale of the three-game series at Tropicana Field, sweeping the series for a three-game winning streak.
It’s the first sweep for the Tigers since April 14-16.
Dingler hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning.
Facing the Rays, Dingler hit .462 (6-for-13) with three home runs and nine RBIs across 14 plate appearances. The 27-year-old drove in four runs apiece in Monday’s opener and Wednesday’s finale.
He is hitting .241 with 14 homers and an .830 OPS in 56 games.
The Tigers improved to 25-38, while the Rays, who entered Wednesday with the best record in the American League, dropped to 36-23. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Tigers are 10½ games behind the first-place Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central.
More importantly, the Tigers experienced a run-scoring breakthrough at Tropicana Field.
The offense scored 81 runs (with 18 home runs) through 28 games in May, only to score 25 runs (with 10 home runs) in the first three games in June.
On the mound
Right-hander Troy Melton struggled early on.
But he dominated throughout the middle and late innings.
The 25-year-old didn’t throw a first-pitch strike to the first eight batters he faced, and the Rays took advantage of his command issues by scoring one run apiece in a 19-pitch first inning and a 17-pitch second inning.
The result of those runs: The Rays tied the game, 1-1, on Yandy Díaz’s RBI single in the first and tied the game again, 2-2, on Cedric Mullins’ solo home run in the second.
Melton suddenly threw a first-pitch strike for the first time to Victor Mesa Jr., immediately following Mullins’s homer and Nick Fortes’ single.
He faced the minimum 21 batters after Fortes’ single, needing 14 pitches in the third inning, 10 in the fourth, eight in the fifth, six in the sixth and eight in the seventh and 12 in the eighth.
His only blemish during that stretch came on a leadoff walk to Jonathan Aranda in the third inning, losing a nine-pitch battle. He bounced back by erasing Aranda on the bases with a double play, then he struck out Richie Palacios.
Melton owns a 1.74 ERA in three starts since returning May 24 from the injured list after suffering right elbow inflammation in spring training.
At the plate
The story continues to be the offense.
It’s a small sample size, but the Tigers keep hitting in June.
The Tigers grabbed the lead in the first inning for the fourth game in a row, courtesy of Gleyber Torres’ leadoff double and Dingler’s RBI single.
Torres attacked a first-pitch cutter from right-hander Nick Martinez in his second game since returning from the injured list, recovering from a left oblique strain.
Martinez allowed six runs on nine hits and one walk with one strikeout across four innings, throwing 58 pitches. He hadn’t allowed more than two runs in his first 11 starts, entering Wednesday with a 1.62 ERA.
He now has a 2.29 ERA after his 12th start.
After taking a 1-0 lead, the Tigers made it 2-1 in the second on Jake Rogers’ home run and 3-2 in the third on Spencer Torkelson’s sacrifice fly.
The big swing occurred in the fourth inning.
Singles from Matt Vierling and Torres put two runners on for Dingler with two outs, and, with two strikes, he pulled Martinez’s middle-away cutter for a three-run home run.
It put the Tigers ahead, 6-2.
A sacrifice fly from Kerry Carpenter extended the Tigers’ lead to 7-2 in the ninth inning.
Next up: Comerica Park
The six-game road trip is in the books.
The Tigers have an off day Thursday – with another off day approaching on Monday – as they return home to Comerica Park for a three-game series against the AL West-leading Seattle Mariners, beginning Friday (6:40 p.m., Detroit SportsNet).
The probable pitchers for the series: left-hander Framber Valdez on Friday, right-hander Keider Montero on Saturday and right-hander Jack Flaherty on Sunday.
For the Mariners, All-Star right-hander Bryan Woo is scheduled to start Friday’s opener.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Pride Month is here, and Milwaukee is showing up ready to slay with a packed calendar. Whether you’re looking to find love with The Butchelorette, cruise through the city in a Pride motorcycle ride, bring the whole family to the Pride Parade, or dance the night away at PrideFest, there’s something for everyone to uplift and celebrate Milwaukee’s LGBTQ+ community.
1. Milwaukee Film Pride Month Series
ALL MONTH | ORIENTAL THEATRE
Milwaukee Film curated a program of campy, fun, queer films to watch all month long. The “Queerious“ series comprises films that fit into the category of “Historians Would Say They Were Roommates or Good Friends,” including The Color Purple, Challengers, Rope, and Johnny Guitar. And the Summer Camp 2 series features campy classics like But I’m a Cheerleader, She’s the He, Victor/Victoria, and Burlesque. Plus, of course, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, featuring Milwaukee’s Sensual Daydreams cast performing live alongside the film, screening June 13.
2. Pop Pride: In Full Color
JUNE 1-7 | POP WALKER’S POINT
Pop in Walker’s Point has a full slate of events to kick off Pride Month, including bingo, a “Drag Race” watch party, plenty of DJs and a bunch of drag shows, including a day full of performances on June 7 alongside the Pride Parade. See the full lineup here.
RELATED READS: YOUR GUIDE TO THIS YEAR’S PRIDEFEST
3. Queer Oasis with Lou’s Moms
JUNE 4 FROM 4-7 P.M. | CACTUS CLUB
Local DJ duo Lou’s Moms — self-described as having “fantastically omnivorous musical taste” — are spinning tunes to “make your heart swoon” in a celebration of queer community at Cactus Club. This event is free to attend.
4. PrideFest
JUNE 4-6 | HENRY MAIER FESTIVAL PARK
There’s something for everyone at Milwaukee’s annual PrideFest. Whether you want to kick back and relax by the lakefront, shop around local LGBTQ+ vendors, or dance the night away with DJs and drag performances, there’s much packed into the lineup this year.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
5. Ride With Pride
JUNE 6 AT 10 A.M. | DAVIDSON PARK
The world’s largest Pride motorcycle ride is back! It’ll begin at Davidson Park, and the police-escorted ride will go throughout Milwaukee and end at the Harley-Davidson Museum. Everyone who registers will receive a commemorative poker chip, and patches will be available for purchase. Register in person or online here.
6. Drag Queen Story Hour
JUNE 6 FROM 10:30-11:30 A.M. | COLECTIVO PROSPECT CAFE
Stop by Colectivo’s Prospect Cafe for a drag queen story hour to celebrate Pride with the little ones! And while you’re there, you can grab one of their Pride watercolor cookies, too.
7. Milwaukee Pride Parade
JUNE 7 AT 2 P.M. | SECOND STREET IN WALKER’S POINT
With the theme “Together We Are Pride,” the Milwaukee Pride Parade is back for its 22nd year. The first Pride parade in Milwaukee was a political protest. Today, thousands of folks come together for the parade to celebrate the city’s LGBTQ+ community.
8. Pride Parade Watch Party & Flea Market
JUNE 7 FROM NOON-5 P.M. | POMEROY
Get a prime seat for watching the Pride Parade and shop vintage clothing, get a flash tattoo, and sip a cold drink at Pomeroy’s watch party, located right along the parade route.
9. Flour Girl and Flame Pop-Up
JUNE 7 AT 6 P.M. | ESTEREV
Raising money for the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, LGBTQ+-owned Flour Girl and Flame will be whipping up pizzas at EsterEv in Bay View after the Pride Parade until they sell out.
10. Pride Parade Queer Afterparty
JUNE 7 AT 7 P.M. | THE COOPERAGE
Venus Social Club and Pole Factory are teaming up to keep the party going after the Pride Parade. Inside, dance the night away to a lineup of DJs. Outside, watch a show from Pole Factory’s Sapphic Sirens, shop LGBTQ+ vendors, get a tattoo, enjoy a featured drink, or participate in the arm wrestling competitions. The event is for ages 21+, and tickets are available online here.
11. The Sapphic Butchlorette
JUNE 12 AT 10:30 P.M. | CACTUS CLUB
Ever wondered what it’d be like to see a sapphic version of “The Bachelorette”? Well, this is exactly that. Live at Cactus Club, eight contestants will compete for local tattoo artist Syd Lange’s love. Dress formal/semi-formal and be ready to dance the night away at the afterparty with DJ Mya Goetsch and DJ Femme Noir on the music. Get tickets here.
12. Brewers Pride Night
JUNE 12 AT 6:40 P.M. | AMERICAN FAMILY FIELD
From an LGBTQ+ makers market to the national anthem sung by singer/songwriter and sister duo REYNA, the Brewers are hosting a night of celebration for Pride. They’re playing the Philadelphia Phillies. Get tickets here.
13. Read With Pride Romance Book Fair
JUNE 13 FROM 10 A.M.-3 P.M. | BAIRD CENTER
If you grew up on the Scholastic Book Fair, this event is for you. The Well Red Damsel is bringing over 25 romance authors together – along with vendors including The Fruity Studio, Geeky Elves, and Good Stick Co. – for a day celebrating LGBTQ+ love stories. Admission is free, but the event is taking donations on-site for Courage+.
14. Sapphics in the Sun: Picnic
JUNE 13 FROM 1-4 P.M. | LAKE PARK
Milwaukee’s lesbian and sapphic events group CHOSEN is hosting a picnic at Lake Park. It’ll have yard games and music, and it’s bring-your-own snacks, chairs and blankets. RSVP here.
15. Midtown Pride
JUNE 13 FROM 3-7 P.M. | JOY ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Celebrate Pride in Tosa at Joy Ice Cream Social, with family and dance yoga, face painting, DIY tie-dye bandanas, a dunk tank, live music from Billy Goat Rodeo, and food trucks Heirloom and Tots on the Street.
16. Queer Karaoke
JUNE 17 AT 7 P.M. | CACTUS CLUB
The third Wednesday of every month, Cactus Club hosts Queer Karaoke – and, of course, Pride Month is no exception. Sing your heart out and hang out – if you liked it, you can go back the next month.
17. Born This Slay Drag Show
JUNE 17 AT 6:30 P.M. | CAFE CENTRAAL
“Don’t be a drag, just be a queen” at Cafe Centraal at this drag show featuring queens Roxy Toxin, Aubrey del Mar, Blythe, Ayesha Voodoo, and Jezebel Diamond St. Klare. Tickets are available here.
18. Pride Party
JUNE 18 FROM 4-7 P.M. | PRITZLAFF BUILDING COURTYARD
Milwaukee Airwaves and LGBTQ+- and woman-owned Miss Ruby Bridal Boutique are teaming up to bring a Pride party to the Pritzlaff Building. Expect a photo booth, Chase My Creations clothing, and food trucks, including Tots on the Street, Cocina Filipina, Paleteria Yayo and more.
19. Queer Book Club
JUNE 24 AT 6 P.M. | THIRST BOOKS
Thirst Books’ Queer Book Club is aptly having its first meeting during Pride Month. They’ll be reading a spicy sapphic alien romance by Emma Elizabeth. RSVP for free here.
20. Thrift & Sips: Pride Owned Edition
JUNE 27 FROM 11 A.M.-4 P.M. | STYLE POP CAFE
Shop local LGBTQ+-owned thrift and vintage shops and sip a bit of coffee at Style Pop Cafe’s Pride event. There will be lots of clothes, accessories and home decor to browse.
21. Sapphic Paint & Sip
JUNE 27 AT 6:30 P.M. | VIBEZ CREATIVE ART SPACE
CHOSEN is partnering with Vibez Creative Art Space for an evening of sapphic community and art. Tickets include a drink and painting supplies – and plenty of fun to be had. Get tickets here.
Premiere vocal ensemble, Cantus is bringing the songs of Dolly Parton to the stage with fresh interpretations. The show will cover her classics like “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” Cantus Presents, COVERS: Dolly & Friends runs through June 7th at the Luminary Arts Center at 700 N 1st St. in Minneapolis.
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