At a Glance
- FBI surges resources to Minnesota amid viral video exposing alleged day-care fraud.
- Investigation targets more than a dozen social-service facilities linked to Somali immigrants.
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz defends state’s anti-fraud push, citing ongoing closures and raids.
- Why it matters: The probe could uncover widespread misuse of federal and state funds in child-care programs.
The FBI has intensified its investigation into suspected fraud across Minnesota’s social-service sector after a viral video by influencer Nick Shirley highlighted allegedly inactive day-care centers that still received funding. The agency says the video is just the tip of a larger iceberg, while the state’s governor insists his office is already cracking down on fraud.
FBI Investigation Intensifies
**FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X that the agency had already deployed significant investigative resources to Minnesota as part of an ongoing fraud probe largely focused on Somali immigrants. Patel noted the video was
> “We believe this is just the tip of a very large iceberg.”
The agency’s focus includes more than a dozen social-service facilities that allegedly received state and federal money while remaining non-operational.
- Video created by right-wing influencer Nick Shirley
- FBI surged resources to Minnesota
- Investigation largely targets Somali immigrants
- FBI believes this is the tip of a very large iceberg
State Response and Facility Status
Spokesperson for Gov. Walz’s office said the governor has worked for years to crack down on fraud and has launched investigations into the facilities in question. One of the facilities, the Quality Learing Center, has already been closed and law-enforcement raids have been conducted.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Charges | 77 people |
| Alleged scheme | $250 million |
| Alleged amount uncovered in one day | $110 million |
| Funding claimed for center | $1.9 million |
The facility is licensed to care for 99 children and has been fined twice since 2022 for background-check violations and had other violations noted in a June licensing visit.
Video Claims and Facility Facts
Shirley’s 42-minute video shows an inactive childcare center in Minneapolis with a misspelled sign. He claims the center received $1.9 million from the government this year and that it is run by Somali immigrants. The facility, licensed to care for 99 children, has been fined twice since 2022 for background-check violations and had other violations noted in a June licensing visit.
- Video features inactive center
- Claims $1.9 million funding
- Facility licensed for 99 children
- Fines for background-check violations
Political Reactions
The Trump administration seized on the scandal amid its crackdown on illegal immigration in Minnesota, home to roughly 80,000 Somali residents. President Trump publicly criticized Somali immigrants, while Gov. Walz condemned the remarks as demonizing an entire group. Walz, who was governor when the DOJ first charged Minnesota residents in 2022, has faced calls from the Trump administration to resign.
President Trump said:
> “I don’t want them in our country…”
Gov. Tim Walz said at a December event:
> “If you commit crimes, you go to jail…”
U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger described the first federal charges as:
> “This was a brazen scheme of staggering proportions.”
Key Takeaways
- FBI has intensified its probe into alleged fraud across Minnesota’s child-care sector.
- The investigation focuses on more than a dozen facilities linked to Somali immigrants.
- Political backlash has intensified, with the Trump administration criticizing the governor.
The investigation remains ongoing, with federal and state authorities continuing to probe alleged fraud across Minnesota’s child-care sector.
