ISTANBUL
The US government is “looking at” the possibility of revoking citizenship from Somalis convicted of fraud, the White House said on Wednesday.
“It’s something the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State is currently looking at right now,” spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told Fox News when asked whether President Donald Trump supports stripping citizenship from Somalis found guilty of fraud.
Leavitt said the administration is prepared to pursue denaturalization, describing it as “a tool at the president and the secretary of state’s disposal.”
She characterized the initiative as a “whole-of-government” effort and a “top priority for the administration,” adding that the Justice Department is executing search warrants and subpoenas.
“People will be in handcuffs as a result of the fraud that Governor Walz has allowed to occur for many, many years,” she said, referring to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Leavitt said the Department of Homeland Security is conducting door-to-door investigations at potential fraud sites, while continuing deportations of undocumented immigrants in Minnesota communities.
The Justice Department said Monday it charged 98 individuals in a wide-ranging fraud investigation in Minnesota, with Attorney General Pam Bondi stating 85 are of Somali descent.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Sunday that significant progress has been made investigating a "large-scale" fraud operation in Minnesota that administration officials claim exploited federal food aid programs for children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The US Health and Human Services Department stopped all federal child care funding to Minnesota on Tuesday following the allegations.
Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill and Assistant Secretary Alex Adams said on US social media company X that they were also establishing new nationwide requirements for child care payments.
The department said payments managed by the Administration for Children and Families would require documentation and photographic proof or receipts before funds would be distributed to states.