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Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, wasted no time in peppering witnesses at a Home Oversight Committee listening to on Wednesday concerning the Somali group’s position in alleged widespread fraud uncovered in Minnesota.
In an change with Brendan Ballou, a former federal prosecutor and Democrat witness, Gill highlighted a sequence of the way during which Somalis confirmed a statistical reliance on authorities help applications in Minnesota.
“Are you aware what proportion of Somali-headed households in Minnesota are on meals stamps? 54%,” Gill stated.
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Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, leaves the Home Republican Convention caucus assembly within the Capitol in Washington, Could 6, 2025. (Invoice Clark/CQ-Roll Name, Inc. through Getty Photos)
“Are you aware what that quantity is for native Minnesota-headed households?” Gill requested.
Ballou started to reply however was minimize off by extra questions from Gill.
“Effectively, to be clear, a majority of —” Ballou started.
“It is 7%,” Gill interjected. “There is a large distinction between 54% and seven%, no?”
“You are utilizing the phrase ‘native Minnesotans’ — the vast majority of Somali Minnesotans are as Minnesotan as any of us. They have been born in the USA,” Ballou fired again, noting that there may very well be some overlap between Gill’s numbers.
Gill pushed on.
“What proportion of Somali-headed households are on welfare typically? It is 81%,” Gill stated. “After ten years of being in the USA, what proportion of Somali immigrant households proceed to be on welfare? The quantity is 78%.”
Gill’s statements come as Republicans extra carefully evaluated the fraud ranges found in Minnesota in latest months. Investigators on the native and federal ranges have uncovered myriad fraud schemes posing as daycare facilities, meals applications, well being clinics and extra accused of robbing the state of as much as $9 billion. In these circumstances, the investigators say fraudsters both inflated the numbers of the folks they allegedly helped or fabricated their providers altogether — all whereas receiving authorities {dollars}.
Whereas Republicans have confused a have to sort out fraud writ giant, the Somali group has come underneath particular scrutiny.
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Homeland Safety investigators have been half of a big fraud investigation on Monday in Minneapolis following the discharge of a video on alleged daycare fraud. (Division of Homeland Safety)
Based on Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., investigators have charged 98 defendants — 85 of whom are of Somali descent.
Gill pressed Ballou on whether or not Somalis made Minnesota a stronger state.
“Would not sound like one thing that makes our nation stronger to me. And I believe most Individuals would agree with me on that,” Gill stated.
Gill additionally questioned witnesses on whether or not Democrats probably stand to learn from the Somali group’s help.
“Would you say that is, that the Somali inhabitants is a crucial demographic for Democrats to win over politically?” Gill requested Walter Hudson, a Republican Minnesota state consultant.
“Unquestionably,” Hudson responded.
“Received it. Do you assume it will have damage Democrats’ political standing with the Somali inhabitants to analyze this fraud? You are saying that there was a political incentive to cowl up widespread Somali fraud. Is that proper?”
Hudson once more confirmed Gill’s pondering.
Democrats on the listening to, corresponding to rating member Robert Garcia, D-Calif., pushed again on Gill’s characterization, warning about drawing a blanket accusation throughout the board on Somalis in Minnesota.
“When folks commit fraud and folks get damage, there’s going to be repercussions, as there needs to be. We wish to maintain international fraudsters accountable. We wish to shield the victims, harmless, harmless folks so these that may entry providers and proceed to entry providers throughout this nation. That is the way it ought to work,” Garcia stated.
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Rep. Robert Garcia, a Democrat from California, throughout a information convention exterior the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Nov. 18, 2025. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg through Getty Photos)
The No. 2 Republican within the Home of Representatives, Tom Emmer, R-Minn., the Home GOP whip, has known as for the Trump administration to deport Somalis convicted in relation to the Minnesota fraud ring.
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Gill’s feedback on the Oversight Committee additionally come as Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, launched laws on Tuesday that will require U.S. refugees from Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Somalia to self-deport after 180 days.
