Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) is calling for the deportation of Somalis engaged in fraud across the state of Minnesota.
“I have three words regarding Somalis who have committed fraud against American taxpayers: Send them home. If they’re here illegally, deport them immediately; if they’re naturalized citizens, revoke their citizenship and deport them quickly thereafter. If we need to change the law to do that, I will,” he wrote in a post on X. “Our nation will not tolerate those who take advantage of our charity and refuse to assimilate into our culture.”
“Additionally, if any naturalized Somalis had undisclosed ties to terrorist organizations like Al-Shabaab, I want to see their citizenship revoked and their asses sent back immediately,” he continued. “Same goes for anyone who is found to have committed marriage fraud during the immigration process.”
Emmer’s position appears to be a shift from his earlier stance from 2015, when he joined with Rep. Keith Ellison (D), now Minnesota’s attorney general, to create the Congressional Somalia Caucus. Reports from 2015 indicate that the lawmakers said at the time: “Somalia is not a far off foreign policy issue, it’s a matter of domestic policy and national security. We are committed to advocating on behalf of all of our constituents while ensuring that Somalia has the tools it needs to create strong democratic institutions that provide safety and economic opportunity to its people.”
The Department of Homeland Security shared on social media following reports of widespread fraud that agents were going “DOOR TO DOOR at suspected fraud sites.”
“The American people deserve answers on how their taxpayer money is being used and ARRESTS when abuse is found,” the agency wrote. “Under the leadership of [Secretary Kristi Noem], DHS is working to deliver results.”
