Two Christian non-profit organizations, Catholic Charities and Lutheran Social Services, have collectively received approximately $62 million for the resettlement of tens of thousands of Somali refugees in Minnesota since 1993. According to an immigration expert, Parker Thayer, these government contracts are part of a larger stream of federal funding directed towards resettlement programs, with the total money for programs in Minneapolis alone reaching into the hundreds of millions.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops, which oversees Catholic Charities, has received $140 million in federal migrant resettlement contracts since 2021. Thayer noted that such large allocations of government funding can impact the organizations' ability to fund other areas of their work and may deter private donors who view the resettlement efforts as controversial.
Minnesota has a history of large-scale refugee resettlement. Before becoming a significant hub for the Somali community, the state was known for resettling the Hmong population. This began in 1975 following the Vietnam War, with advocacy from then-Vice President Walter Mondale and Minnesota Governor Al Quie. Mondale's later work at the United Nations in 1979 further solidified international commitments to resettlement.
Catholic Charities and Lutheran Social Services, now known as Global Refuge, had established resettlement operations dating back to World War II, aiding Christians displaced from war-torn Europe. This experience made them key partners for the federal government in subsequent resettlement efforts. Kelsey Reinhardt of CatholicVote highlighted that during World War II, these operations were primarily funded by private donations rather than government contracts.
Since 1993, the two organizations are reported to have resettled around 29,000 Somalis in Minnesota, receiving an estimated $2,500 per refugee to cover initial resettlement costs. The current Somali population in Minnesota exceeds 100,000, influenced by chain migration and the state's social safety net policies. Thayer suggested that some individuals, while claiming refugee status, maintain connections to their home countries and may utilize welfare programs after being resettled elsewhere.
The Biden administration has overseen a significant increase in migrant resettlement operations. Minnesota has been a focal point of controversy, with reports of substantial welfare fraud, estimated at $9 billion, largely attributed to the Somali community. Recently, the home of U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, a Somali native representing a Minneapolis district, was raided by federal immigration officials as part of a criminal investigation.
Thayer commented that concentrating large numbers of resettled individuals in single areas can lead to the formation of isolated ethnic enclaves and potential cultural challenges. Catholic Charities Twin Cities stated that its refugee and immigrant programs concluded in 2018. Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota did not provide a comment.