HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) — President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed in recent weeks that Somalis are taking over Minnesota and stealing public funds.
His allegations have coincided with federal prosecutors’ announcements that some state residents, who reportedly have Somali ancestry, have defrauded Minnesota’s government and illegally obtained public funds. Some of the residents have reportedly been convicted, while others’ cases are ongoing.
According to The New York Times, federal prosecutors reported more than $1 billion of taxpayer money was stolen in at least three plots under investigation.
Trump told reporters on Thursday that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was responsible for the Somalis who were “taking over” the state, although his claims are questionable.
“We have an incompetent governor, a dope. We have a dope governor,” Trump said.
“Somalians have caused a lot of trouble, they’re ripping us off for a lot of money, there’s a tremendous amount of money going back to Somalia. What the hell are we paying money to Somalia for?” the president added, although The National News Desk couldn’t confirm his claims. “But they’re ripping off our country at a level that few people have been able to see before.”
Walz said Sunday that Trump was demonizing an entire community because of the actions of a few of its members, The president’s behavior is “lazy,” the governor noted.
“There’s a reason Minnesota ranks as the top – lowest childhood poverty, best place for children to live. People are taking advantage of that, they’re going to prison. That is totally disconnected with demonizing an entire group of people who came here, fleeing civil war, and created a vibrant community that makes Minnesota and this country better,” Walz said on NBC News’s “Meet the Press.” “But that’s Donald Trump: Deflect, demonize, come up with no solutions. He’s not going to help fix anything on fraud.”
The president also announced earlier this month that he was prohibiting Somalis in Minnesota from participating in the Temporary Protected Status program, which protects them from being removed from the U.S. He wrote in a social media post that Somali gangs were “terrorizing” state residents and that billions of dollars were “missing.”
Trump’s attitude toward Somalis doesn’t make any sense, however, according to Walz, who noted that the president should act more respectfully.
“Do your job. Get the criminals out. Secure our border. But do it with dignity and respect to the American tradition of respecting immigrants and refugees as a beacon of hope,” the governor said.
Trump has previously tried to restrict Somalis’ access to the U.S. He announced this past summer that citizens of Somalia and 11 other countries were restricted from entering the U.S.
Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.
