Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey Backs Somali Community as Minnesota Fraud Investigation Pressure Mounts

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey used a Somali Independence Day address over the weekend to publicly back the city's Somali community, pledging solidarity and declaring its members "our family" as Minnesota faces sustained scrutiny over a series of high-profile fraud investigations. The remarks came weeks after a Republican-led House Oversight Committee report alleged that Governor Tim Walz's administration ignored repeated warnings of widespread fraud in state social services programs. More than 110 people have been charged in connection with various fraud schemes in Minnesota, with many defendants identified as members of the state's Somali immigrant community.

Frey's Public Pledge

Speaking at the weekend celebration, Frey told community members that Minneapolis does not view them as immigrants but as brothers and sisters who have contributed significantly to the city. He appeared to reference Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration's immigration and public safety initiative in Minnesota, framing it as an effort that targeted some members of the community. Frey shared video of his remarks on X alongside a post noting that Minnesota is home to one of the largest Somali communities in the United States. The mayor praised the community's resilience, culture, and leadership.

Operation Metro Surge

Operation Metro Surge concluded in February after border czar Tom Homan announced it had resulted in more than 4,000 arrests in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Homan characterized the operation as reducing public safety threats in the region. Frey's decision to invoke the operation in a message of solidarity signals an ongoing tension between the city's political leadership and federal immigration enforcement priorities.

Fraud Investigations and the Oversight Committee Report

The House Oversight Committee report, released earlier this month, alleged that the Walz administration repeatedly failed to act on warnings about fraud involving state social services programs, including the Feeding Our Future scandal. The committee estimated that Minnesota lost roughly $300 million in stolen federal child nutrition funds during the COVID-19 pandemic and raised concerns that potential racial discrimination claims contributed to delays in addressing suspected fraud. Walz administration officials have disputed the committee's findings. The investigation has placed Minnesota's Somali immigrant community at the intersection of immigration politics, local governance, and federal oversight — a convergence that Frey's weekend address directly acknowledged and sought to address.