Trump Administration Audits Somali-American Citizenship Cases for Possible Fraud

The Trump administration has launched audits of immigration cases involving U.S. citizens of Somali origin to identify potential fraud that could lead to denaturalization, officials said on Tuesday. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that U.S. law allows revocation of citizenship if it was obtained fraudulently, noting that such cases are rare and typically take years to resolve. According to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, an average of about 11 denaturalization cases were pursued annually between 1990 and 2017.

The audits come amid the administration’s broader hardline immigration agenda, which includes tougher deportation efforts, stricter visa and green card reviews, and expanded scrutiny of immigrants’ social media and past statements. Human rights advocates have criticized these measures as infringements on due process and free speech, while administration officials argue they are necessary to bolster national security. Federal investigators have recently linked Minnesota’s Somali community to alleged large-scale fraud tied to federal social service programs, a characterization immigrant-rights groups say unfairly targets Somali Americans.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau has increased investigative resources in Minnesota as part of the fraud inquiries, while the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a freeze on child-care payments to the state pending stricter documentation requirements. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the move, saying the state has already taken steps to combat fraud and accused President Trump of politicizing the issue to undermine programs that support residents.

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