Federal agents launched a sweeping series of coordinated raids across Minnesota Tuesday morning targeting dozens of Somali-run childcare centers and businesses as part of an investigation into ongoing alleged fraud on a massive scale.
The Raids
As reported on Wednesday’s AM Update, federal agents carried out at least 22 court-authorized search warrants across the Twin Cities. Roughly 20 childcare centers were among the targets, according to CBS News, along with other businesses tied to the Somali-American community.
The Department of Justice confirmed to Fox News the warrants were part of a larger fraud probe – not immigration enforcement – as authorities focus on alleged abuse of taxpayer-funded programs.
No arrests were made in connection with the raids, but agents could be seen removing boxes of evidence from various locations. Among the businesses searched, the infamous “Quality Learing Center,” a Minneapolis daycare previously flagged in a viral investigation late last year by YouTuber Nick Shirley who pointed out they didn’t even bother to spell “learning” right.
Shirley visited multiple Somali-run childcare and health facilities receiving public funds in Minneapolis and raised questions about services being billed but not provided. The viral video drew national attention.
Fraud Probe
Tuesday’s raids mark the latest escalation in a sweeping federal probe into alleged abuse of taxpayer-funded childcare and social service programs in Minnesota. Since 2021, more than 90 people have been charged in COVID fraud schemes tied to federally funded programs, including meal services and autism support. Dozens have already been convicted and losses are estimated to be as high as $19 billion.
The Trump administration has made fraud enforcement a central priority, with President Donald Trump declaring a “war on fraud” during his February State of the Union address. Vice President J.D. Vance tapped last month to lead a federal task force, and he reacted to what happened Tuesday in the North Star State on X. “The task force and the DOJ will be relentless in exposing these fraudsters wherever they may be hiding,” he wrote.
Democrat Gov. Tim Walz, who dropped his re-election campaign in January amid heavy criticism of his inability to crack down on fraud, tried to take credit for yesterday’s operation. “Today’s raids by state and federal law enforcement happened because our state agencies caught irregular behavior and reported it,” he wrote on X. “That’s how the system is supposed to work, and our agencies will keep at it as long as there are fraudsters around to put behind bars.”
But FBI Director Kash Patel wasn’t having it. “Come again? This FBI and DOJ with our [Department of Homeland Security] partners drafted and executed every search warrant today,” he countered on X. “But go ahead and take credit for our work while we smoke out the fraud plaguing Minnesota under your governorship.”
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