Trump administration audits Somali American citizenship cases in enforcement push

Key Highlights

• According to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, about 11 cases were pursued per year between 1990 and 2017. More from World US: Court ruling lets Trump admin share immigrant Medicaid details with ICE How a viral exposé on welfare fund fraud led to door-to-door federal probe in MinnesotaSince taking office in January, Trump has adopted a hardline approach to immigration, marked by an aggressive deportation drive, the revocation of visas and green cards, and the screening of immigrants’ social media posts and past speeches. Minnesota focus and broader enforcementFederal officials in recent weeks have described Minnesota’s Somali community as a centre of alleged fraud involving millions of federal dollars earmarked for social services.
• Immigrant-rights advocates argue that the administration is using these fraud investigations as a pretext to target Somali immigrants more broadly. FBI Director Kash Patel said on Sunday that the bureau has “surged” investigative resources and personnel to Minnesota, describing the move as part of the latest fraud investigations focused on the state’s Somali population. Separately, the US Department of Health and Human Services said on Tuesday that it has frozen all child care payments to Minnesota.
• The department said that, going forward, all payments from its Administration for Children and Families nationwide “will require a justification and a receipt or photo evidence before we send money to a state.”Quick ReadsView AllGuinea junta chief Doumbouya wins Presidency in landslide voteTrain collision on Machu Picchu route leaves one dead, over 40 injuredHuman rights groups have widely condemned the administration’s immigration policies, saying they undermine rights such as due process and free speech.
• Trump and his allies maintain that the measures are intended to strengthen domestic securityFollow Firstpost on Google.
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