Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) is intensifying his criticism of Somali immigrants in Minnesota who, he argues, refuse to assimilate into American culture amid mounting allegations of widespread fraud tied to the states Somali community.
The House Majority Whip delivered his remarks at a Faith and Freedom Coalition gathering in Washington, DC, where he directly challenged what he described as a culture of timidity around calling out criminal behavior. According to Breitbart, Emmers comments followed a series of reports detailing alleged large-scale fraud involving Somali-run operations in Minnesota, raising fresh questions about immigration, assimilation, and the misuse of taxpayer funds.
Guess what? There is nothing racist about calling out a criminal Sometimes Minnesotans are so afraid that youre gonna call us a racist, youre gonna call us an Islamophobe, youre gonna call us some name that we just dont want to get into that fight. You know what? I would argue that I never did care, but I am done being careful. Even the least bit careful, Emmer told the audience, rejecting the lefts routine use of identity politics as a shield against scrutiny. He framed the issue as one of law and order, not ethnicity or religion, insisting that Americans must not be intimidated into silence by accusations of bigotry.
I dont really care where you come from. But if you come to this great country, you have to understand youre coming here to be an American. We celebrate everyones culture, were happy with that, as long as you are an American. Celebrate your culture, I dont care. Italian, Polish Somali, okay? But they dont assimilate, and if they dont assimilate then they should go the hell back to where they came from, Emmer continued, underscoring a traditional conservative expectation that immigrants embrace American norms and loyalties. His blunt language stood in stark contrast to the multicultural rhetoric favored by Democrats, who often prioritize group identity over national cohesion.
This is not the first time Emmer has pressed the issue of Somali-linked fraud and the broader question of assimilation. He has repeatedly aligned himself with President Donald Trumps tougher stance on immigration enforcement and the removal of those who abuse public benefits.
He said in December there was nothing wrong with President Donald Trump saying liars, cheaters, and people who stole from Minnesota taxpayers should be removed from the United States, Breitbart News reported. His comments came during an appearance on Breitbart News Daily, where he emphasized that the problem is concentrated within a specific community that has benefited from lax oversight and political protection.
By the way, those are his words. I would tell you this. I would tell you that not all Somalis that I have run into in Minnesota are criminals. It just so happens that about 90 percent of the people who have been charged with the crimes that were talking about are from the Somali community, Emmer pointed out, adding that he is actually grateful that Trump has made this a national issue. Im sad, like many Minnesotans, that this is why were in the news, but its high time that we start putting Minnesotans first. We start actually calling out crime and fraud and holding people accountable, Mike, Emmer said, arguing that protecting taxpayers must take precedence over political correctness.
In December, Emmer also sent a pointed letter to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) demanding answers and swift corrective action after allegations of massive fraud tied to Somali-run, publicly funded daycares and healthcare centers. The letter comes after a viral investigation by citizen journalist Nick Shirley who reportedly uncovered over $110 million in fraud in a single day, the Breitbart News article read, highlighting the scale of the alleged abuse and the failure of state authorities to prevent it.
The Somali community in Minnesota, like Chinese, Indian, and Mexican enclaves elsewhere in the United States, has developed its own economic networks closely linked to the homeland through remittances, investments, and frequent air travel. Thus, pots of U.S.-generated cash, often drawn from federal and state programs and sometimes corruptly obtained, become targets for foreign governments and home-country entrepreneurs, who then channel influence back into American politics.
Those financial and political feedback loops, conservatives warn, risk turning immigrant enclaves into outposts of foreign interests rather than fully integrated American communities. For example, mayors in Minnesota spoke out in February about how fraud affected their communities, describing the strain on local resources and the erosion of public trust.
More video footage showed examples of how leaders were more interested in supporting Somalia and maintaining connections to that country than assimilating into American culture. These images reinforced concerns that loyalty to a foreign nation is being prioritized over allegiance to the United States, even as American taxpayers foot the bill.
In addition, Somalis in Minnesota swindled millions in state Medicaid autism-care programs and sent the cash back to their homeland and its terror groups, investigators say, Breitbart News reported in November. More clips showed leftist Minnesota leaders covering for the alleged fraud and supporting Somalians while Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who claimed to have assimilated, spoke about safeguarding the interests of Somalia, further fueling conservative criticism that Democrats are enabling corruption for political gain.
Notably, The Somali-run taxpayer fraud is a core part of the Democrats political machine in Minnesota, according to Jim ONeill, deputy secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Breitbart News reported in January. As Emmer and other conservatives press for accountability, the central question remains whether Minnesotas political establishment will confront the alleged fraud and insist on genuine assimilation, or continue to shield a powerful voting bloc at the expense of law-abiding citizens and the integrity of public funds.
Login