U.S. Weighs Revoking Citizenship for Somalis Convicted of Fraud, White House Says

White House weighs revoking U.S. citizenship for Somalis convicted of fraud amid Minnesota probe

The White House said Wednesday it is examining whether to revoke the U.S. citizenship of Somalis convicted of fraud in Minnesota, as the administration escalates a wide-ranging investigation into alleged abuse of federal social service programs.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House spokesperson, told Fox News the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department are “looking at” denaturalization, calling it “a tool at the president and the secretary of state’s disposal.” She described the push as a “whole-of-government” effort and a “top priority,” saying the Justice Department is executing search warrants and subpoenas in Minnesota.

• Administration says denaturalization is under review for fraud convictions tied to Minnesota cases
• Justice Department has charged 98 individuals; officials say the probe targets alleged pandemic-era fraud
• House Oversight sets Feb. 10 hearing; Minnesota leaders invited to testify
• HHS halts federal child care funding to Minnesota, announces tighter national payment rules

“People will be in handcuffs as a result of the fraud that Governor Walz has allowed to occur for many, many years,” Leavitt said, referring to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. She added that DHS is conducting door-to-door investigations at potential fraud sites while continuing deportations of undocumented immigrants in Minnesota communities.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, President Donald Trump asserted—without providing evidence—that “up to 90%” of alleged fraud in Minnesota is tied to immigrants from Somalia and called for deportations of those who entered the United States illegally. He also attacked Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., repeating long-disputed allegations about her personal life and describing Somalia as “perhaps the worst, and most corrupt, country on earth.”

Separately, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer announced a hearing next month examining alleged fraud and misuse of federal funds in Minnesota’s social services programs. Comer invited Gov. Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison to testify before the committee on Feb. 10, 2026, saying in a statement that “American taxpayers demand and deserve accountability for the theft of their hard-earned money.”

The Justice Department said Monday it charged 98 individuals in a broad fraud case in Minnesota. Attorney General Pam Bondi said 85 of those charged are of Somali descent. On Sunday, FBI Director Kash Patel said investigators have made “significant progress” in probing a “large-scale” operation that administration officials contend exploited federal food aid programs for children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday halted all federal child care funding to Minnesota following the allegations. Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill and Assistant Secretary Alex Adams said on X that the agency is also imposing new nationwide requirements for child care payments.

HHS said payments managed by the Administration for Children and Families will now require documentation and photographic proof or receipts before funds are released to states. The department did not specify how long Minnesota’s funding pause would last or how the new verification rules will be implemented across states.

Administration officials did not offer a timeline for potential denaturalization actions or specify how many naturalized citizens could be targeted. Leavitt said only that the process is underway and part of a broader effort to pursue fraud cases and immigration enforcement in Minnesota.

Officials in Minnesota did not immediately respond publicly in the material provided to the allegations or to the prospect of denaturalization reviews tied to the federal probe.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.