Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey declared solidarity with the city's Somali community over the weekend, calling them "our family" and praising their contributions during remarks celebrating Somali Independence Day. His address comes as Minnesota continues to face scrutiny over high-profile fraud investigations.
A Republican-led House Oversight Committee report released earlier this month alleged that Gov. Tim Walz's administration repeatedly ignored warnings about widespread fraud within the state's social services programs, including the Feeding Our Future scandal. The report stated that over 110 individuals have been charged in connection with various fraud schemes in Minnesota, with many defendants identified as members of the state's Somali immigrant community. The committee also estimated that Minnesota lost approximately $300 million in stolen federal child nutrition funds during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing potential concerns about racial discrimination claims as a factor contributing to delays in addressing suspected fraud. Officials from the Walz administration have disputed the committee's findings.
Frey's remarks, which he shared on X (formerly Twitter), appeared to reference past federal actions. "Through the most difficult of times and through Operation Metro Surge, we all saw that they tried to come for some of us," Frey stated to the Somali community. "And when that happens, we say that you’re coming for all of us."
He emphasized his administration's view of the community, saying, "In Minneapolis, we loved our neighbors. In Minneapolis, we do not see you as immigrants. We see you as our family. You are our brothers. You’re our sisters. You have done so much for this incredible city, and for that, we stand with you."
Operation Metro Surge was a Trump administration immigration and public safety initiative in Minnesota that concluded in February, with officials reporting over 4,000 arrests in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Frey also highlighted Minnesota as home to one of the largest Somali communities in the United States, celebrating its "resilience, culture, and leadership."