Federal Agents Execute 22 Search Warrants in Minnesota Welfare Fraud Investigation

Federal agents carried out a series of raids tied to an investigation into alleged welfare fraud in Minnesota on Tuesday morning, and federal authorities said the operation was not part of an immigration enforcement effort.

“Since December 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has conducted raids in Minnesota using military-style tactics, which sparked protests and a state lawsuit amid leadership changes ordered by Trump”

Chequeado

NBC News reported that “Today the FBI with federal, state and local law enforcement is involved in court-authorized law enforcement activity as part of an ongoing fraud investigation,” quoting a Justice Department spokesperson.

Chequeado

NBC News also said “At least 22 federal search warrants were executed in Minnesota on Tuesday morning,” while adding that it was “not immediately clear how many total raids occurred.”

The raids included activity at the Somali Senior Center and Adult Day Services facility, where NBC News reported federal law enforcement could be seen going in and out of the building.

The facility “did not answer a call from NBC News on Tuesday morning.”

Vice President J.D. Vance said in a post on X that “The task force and the DOJ will be relentless in exposing these fraudsters wherever they may be hiding.”

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., thanked the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security “for taking action against Somali fraudsters,” saying “Minnesotans and U.S. taxpayers across the nation are grateful.”

The Department of Homeland Security said it “executed criminal search warrants in Minneapolis relating to the rampant fraud of American taxpayers dollars,” and that it “will continue working to deliver answers to the American people on how their taxpayer dollars were abused.”

The raids and broader crackdown unfolded inside a wider political and legal confrontation between Washington and Democratic-led Minnesota, with Pam Bondi ordering cooperation and accusing local authorities of obstructing federal action.

Le Figaro described a letter from U.S. attorney general Pam Bondi to Governor Tim Walz, saying it “accuses local authorities of obstructing federal action,” and framed it as part of “a broader political and legal confrontation between Washington and Democratic-led states.”

Courrier international

Le Figaro also said the letter’s “Subtext” was that if Democrats refused to cooperate, “the violent crisis affecting the region, and notably the city of Minneapolis, where ICE agents shot and killed Alex Pretti,” would not exist, adding that Pam Bondi “thus regrets 'heartbreaking consequences.'”

Courrier international, citing a New York Times report, described the crackdown as sweeping through Minneapolis and said Mahad Omar “saw armed federal agents burst into his street and pin down one of his neighbors,” with agents “handcuffed him and hauled him into a tinted-window SUV.”

Courrier international quoted Omar saying, “Minneapolis is a city where it’s good to live,” and “This is the first time I’ve seen anything like this.”

The same Courrier international account tied the crackdown to a viral video about social welfare fraud in child-care centers run by Somalis, saying it was “justified by a video that went viral about a social welfare fraud scandal in child-care centers run by Somalis.”

Univision added that the Trump administration announced on Tuesday it would freeze funds earmarked for child care in Minnesota amid allegations of fraud, quoting Jim O'Neill, the acting Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services, saying the measure responded to “the blatant fraud that appears to be widespread in Minnesota and across the country.”

Univision also said the announcement came a day after the Department of Homeland Security visited businesses in Minnesota and questioned workers as part of a fraud investigation, and it described the administration’s approach as shutting off payments while investigations continued.

The federal actions drew sharp reactions from officials and political figures, while Somali community members described fear and direct encounters with agents.

“El FBI investiga un esquema de fraude en los servicios sociales para inmigrantes en Minnesota Funcionarios federales han descrito a la comunidad somalí de Minnesota como un foco de fraude que involucra millones de dólares de fondos federales El Buró Federal de Investigaciones de Estados Unidos, mejor conocido como el FBI ha «aumentado» recursos y personal de investigación a Minnesota, dijo el domingo el director de la oficina, Kash Patel, como parte de una investigación de un esquema de fraude en los servicios sociales para inmigrantes”

El Debate

Univision quoted Vice President JD Vance on X saying, “Politicians benefit because they gain power. The welfare fraudsters benefit because they enrich themselves,” and it added that he called the situation “a zero-sum game, and they are stealing money and political power from Minnesota residents.”

Univision also reported that the Democratic U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar urged people not to blame an entire community, while Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer called for “denaturalization and mass deportation of all Somalis involved in fraud in Minnesota” in a post on X on Monday.

Courrier international described Mahad Omar’s account of being detained, and it included his assessment that “Minneapolis is a city where it’s good to live,” alongside his statement that “This is the first time I’ve seen anything like this.”

France 24 reported that Trump spoke with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey amid outrage over deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, and it quoted Walz describing the call as “productive” while stressing that “impartial investigations into the shootings are needed.”

France 24 also quoted Frey saying some ICE agents could depart the city starting Tuesday, and it said Frey promised to keep pressing for other officials involved in Operation 'Metro Surge' to leave soon.

In the same France 24 account, Trump announced on Truth Social, “I will send Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight,” adding, “Tom is tough, but fair, and he will report to me directly.”

Le Parisien described Pam Bondi’s broader political framing and said the Trump administration was reviewing immigration records of American citizens of Somali origin, quoting Tricia McLaughlin, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, saying, “Under U.S. law, if a person obtains citizenship on a fraudulent basis, that constitutes a ground for denaturalization.”

Different outlets framed the Minnesota case through different lenses, from welfare fraud investigations to immigration enforcement and political confrontation.

NBC News emphasized that the raids were “not part of an immigration enforcement operation,” and it described the action as “court-authorized law enforcement activity as part of an ongoing fraud investigation,” while also highlighting that “At least 22 federal search warrants were executed in Minnesota on Tuesday morning.”

EL PAÍS

El Debate, in Spanish, described the FBI as having “aumentado” resources and investigation personnel in Minnesota and said the director of the office, Kash Patel, described the Somali community as a focus of fraud involving “millones de dólares de fondos federales.”

El Debate also referenced a Wall Street Journal report estimating that “las pérdidas por fraude en Minnesota desde 2018 podrían superar los 9 mil millones de dólares,” and it said Patel referred to “informes recientes en redes sociales en Minnesota” without details.

Le Figaro presented the story as a confrontation over immigration and welfare fraud, saying Pam Bondi ordered Tim Walz to cooperate and accusing local authorities of obstructing federal action, while also tying the dispute to ICE violence in Minneapolis where “ICE agents shot and killed Alex Pretti.”

Univision, by contrast, centered on the administration’s funding freeze and described the measure as responding to “the blatant fraud that appears to be widespread in Minnesota and across the country,” while also describing a hotline and an email address to report fraud.

El Paí s described the case as ammunition for Trump’s MAGA army against Democrats, saying “Federal agencies launch a massive investigation” after a YouTuber posted a video alleging irregularities in public funding for daycare centers, and it quoted Kash Patel saying the FBI had “increased resources and investigative personnel to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes.”

Chequeado shifted the focus to the broader enforcement environment, stating that “Since December 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has conducted raids in Minnesota using military-style tactics,” and it tied those raids to protests, a state lawsuit, and deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

The sources describe multiple next steps and potential consequences, ranging from funding freezes and audits to further enforcement actions and legal proceedings.

“Trump tones down his rhetoric and could withdraw agents from Minneapolis, while sending there his 'border czar'”

France 24

Univision said the Trump administration announced on Tuesday it would freeze funds earmarked for child care in Minnesota, with Jim O'Neill saying the government had “shut off the money faucet and we are finding the fraud,” and it reported that O'Neill said he urged Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to conduct an audit of child care centers, including “attendance records, licenses, complaints, investigations, and inspections.”

France 24

Univision also reported that authorities opened a hotline and an email address to report fraud, and it described Walz’s position that the results of an audit expected by the end of January should provide a better picture of the magnitude of the fraud.

Le Parisien added that Washington announced on Tuesday that it was reviewing the immigration records of American citizens of Somali origin, with the goal “to detect possible fraud that could lead to the denaturalization of Americans born in this Horn of Africa country,” and it said Pam Bondi insisted that “98 people have been indicted, "including 85 of Somali origin," insisted on Monday Attorney General Pam Bondi.”

France 24 reported that Trump could withdraw agents from Minneapolis while sending Tom Homan, and it said some ICE agents could depart starting Tuesday, with the mayor promising to press for other officials involved in Operation 'Metro Surge' to leave soon.

Chequeado said Minnesota filed a lawsuit on January 12, 2026 for alleged violations of the First and Tenth Amendments and that a judge ordered ICE to explain a possible contempt, while also stating that “3,000 people have been arrested” in the DHS operations.

France 24 also quoted Trump’s Truth Social message that “I will send Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight,” and it described Trump’s continued allegations about “massive welfare fraud of more than $20 billion that occurred in Minnesota” as part of the political fallout.

Taken together, the sources depict a sequence moving from raids and funding freezes toward audits, potential denaturalization efforts, and ongoing legal and enforcement disputes tied to Minneapolis and Minnesota.