Trump Pledges to Revoke Citizenship of All Fraud-Convicted Naturalized Somali Immigrants

Washington (AX) — Former President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would seek to revoke the citizenship of naturalized Americans convicted of fraud, singling out immigrants “from Somalia or anywhere else” as he outlined a tougher immigration and enforcement agenda during a speech in Detroit.

Speaking at the Detroit Economic Club, Trump said a future administration would pursue denaturalization and deportation proceedings against immigrants found guilty of defrauding U.S. citizens. “If you come to America to rob Americans, we’re throwing you in jail, and we’re sending you back to the place from where you came,” he said, drawing applause.

The remarks tied a promised denaturalization push to allegations of fraud in publicly subsidized child care and nutrition programs, with Trump placing particular focus on Minnesota, home to the nation’s largest Somali-American community. He cited what he described as rampant abuse in programs that provide child care and meals to low-income families, invoking the Twin Cities metro as a symbol of lax enforcement.

Federal and state authorities are investigating claims of misuse of child care and meal subsidies in Minnesota and other states. Those investigations remain ongoing, and no comprehensive findings have been released.

Despite the lack of final investigative conclusions, the administration moved to halt certain federal child care payments to five states led by Democratic governors. California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York sued, arguing the funding cutoff violated federal law and would harm families who rely on assistance.

A federal judge last week ordered a temporary pause on the administration’s action while the legal challenge proceeds, restoring payments for now. The court’s order keeps funding flowing as the case moves forward and allows time for the states to argue that the federal government overreached.

Trump’s comments add a new layer to the political fight over immigration and social welfare oversight. He framed the denaturalization pledge as a response to what he called widespread fraud and rising migrant crime, asserting that stronger enforcement is necessary to protect taxpayers and public safety.

Critics say those claims often rely on exaggerated or unproven allegations and disproportionately target immigrant communities, particularly Somali-Americans in Minnesota. Academic and government research has consistently found that immigrants are less likely to commit violent crimes than people born in the United States, undercutting the broader narrative that migration drives crime trends.

Trump’s vow to pursue denaturalization and deportations for fraud convictions marks a hardening of rhetoric ahead of continuing court battles over federal funding and oversight. It also underscores how disputes over state-administered programs—such as child care subsidies and nutrition support—have been drawn into national debates over border control and assimilation.

The White House and federal agencies have not detailed how such denaturalization efforts would be structured or how broadly they would be applied beyond fraud tied to public benefits. The scope of any policy could be shaped by ongoing investigations, future court rulings, and the legal standards required to strip citizenship and remove individuals from the country.

In Minnesota, community leaders and state officials have urged investigators to complete their work while warning against blanket characterizations of an entire diaspora. With the judge’s pause in place, attorneys for the five states are preparing to argue that the administration’s funding freeze was punitive and procedurally improper. Federal lawyers are expected to contend that the halt was necessary to safeguard public money amid suspected abuse.

The legal and political outcomes will influence both state child care programs and the contours of a possible denaturalization campaign. For now, funding continues under court order, investigations remain open, and Trump’s pledge signals that debates over immigration enforcement and social program integrity are set to intensify.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.