US House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, who represents Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, has sparked controversy after calling for the denaturalisation and deportation of Somali individuals found to have committed fraud against American taxpayers.
In a strongly worded statement circulated on social media and conservative platforms, Emmer said those involved in fraud schemes should be removed from the United States regardless of their immigration status.
“I have three words regarding Somalis who have committed fraud against American taxpayers: send them home,” Emmer said.
He added that undocumented immigrants should be deported immediately, while naturalised citizens found guilty of fraud should have their citizenship revoked and be deported thereafter.
BREAKING: I’m calling for the denaturalization and deportation of every Somali engaged in fraud in Minnesota. Read my full statement below:“I have three words regarding Somalis who have committed fraud against American taxpayers: Send them home. If they’re here illegally,
Emmer went further, saying he would support changes to US law to allow for denaturalisation in such cases, arguing that the country “will not tolerate those who take advantage of our charity and refuse to assimilate into our culture.”
The Minnesota lawmaker also claimed that any naturalised individuals found to have undisclosed links to terrorist organisations, including Al-Shabaab, or those involved in marriage fraud during the immigration process, should face immediate revocation of citizenship and deportation.
The remarks come amid renewed scrutiny of large-scale fraud cases in Minnesota, following what Emmer described as “bombshell reporting” by online commentator Nick Shirley.
Emmer has since turned his focus on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, accusing him of incompetence and failure to prevent the misuse of federal funds.
“I’m pressing Tim Walz over his lack of leadership,” Emmer said, alleging that millions of dollars were stolen under the governor’s watch through organised fraud networks.
NEW: Following @nickshirleyy’s bombshell reporting, I’m pressing Tim Walz over his incompetence and lack of leadership. He must answer for the millions of dollars he’s allowed to be stolen by Somali criminals.While the world is just waking up to the chaos in Minnesota, we’ve
While Emmer did not cite specific court rulings in his statement, Minnesota has in recent years been rocked by high-profile fraud prosecutions, including cases involving pandemic relief funds and federal nutrition programmes.
Several of those cases have involved members of the Somali-American community, though authorities have repeatedly stressed that the crimes were committed by individuals and not the community at large.
The rhetoric was echoed by senior federal officials. The US Department of Labor has previously stated that it is working to dismantle what it describes as a “massive Minnesota fraud network” that exploited multiple federal agencies.
US Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer has blamed weak oversight and political leadership for allowing such schemes to flourish.
The massive Minnesota fraud network has abused federal funds across multiple federal agencies thanks to unbelievably miserable ‘leadership’ from politicians like @GovTimWalz and @Ilhan.Thankful for the Patriots helping expose this corruption and fraud.
Civil rights groups have warned against collective blame, arguing that criminal accountability should be handled through the justice system without targeting entire communities based on ethnicity or nationality.
