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Timeline of Somali Immigration and Fraud in Minnesota

1991: Somali Civil War erupts after Siad Barre’s fall, displacing over 1 million.
U.S. begins admitting Somalis under humanitarian refugee policies, facilitated by NGO’s.

1992–1993: First wave of ~5,000 Somali refugees… pic.twitter.com/j6zFpQoHIz

— PigWar (@PigWar) November 21, 2025

1991: Somali Civil War erupts after Siad Barre’s fall, displacing over 1 million.
U.S. begins admitting Somalis under humanitarian refugee policies, facilitated by NGO’s.

1992–1993: First wave of ~5,000 Somali refugees resettled in Minnesota, attracted by generous welfare access.
Clan based networks form in Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, known as “Little Mogadishu.”

1990s–2000s: MN Somali population grows to 70,000–80,000.
Welfare dependency is high, with roughly 40% on benefits.
Remittances to Somalia start, reaching ~$1.7 billion annually by 2023, exceeding Somalia’s government budget.
Al-Shabaab emerges in 2006, taxing hawala, money transfer networks.

2007–2015: Minnesota leads the U.S. in Al-Shabaab/ISIS recruitment, with over 20 Somalis joining overseas.
DHS reports describe Somalis as “sophisticated users of social welfare benefits.”
Fraud flags emerge.
Somali fraudsters cry racism and islamophobia to stall probes.
Hawala networks send millions in welfare funds abroad.

2016: Feeding Scam founded as a Somali nonprofit sponsoring child nutrition.
Initial federal funding is modest, rising to $3.4 million by 2019.

2018: Fox 9 exposes ~$100 million in child care fraud, with suitcases of cash flown to Somalia, funding terrorists.
Autism claims begin to rise at $3 million with 41 providers, Somali providers complete fraud loop.
Somali perpetrators deploy accusations of racism and Islamophobia to stall investigations again.

2019: Tim Walz elected governor in November 2018, takes office in January 2019.
Over 28 fraud scandals uncovered so far during his tenure.
Feeding Scam receives $3.4 million.
Autism Fraud rises to $54 million.
Ilhan Omar, elected to Congress in 2018, relies on the Somali vote as a key factor in Democratic wins.

2020: COVID 19 waivers enable unchecked program expansion.
Housing Scam launches with a $2.6 million annual estimate but pays out $21 million.
Feeding Scam explodes to nearly $200 million via fake claims.
Autism fraud grows to $77 million.
Officials flag issues, but Somali racism lawsuits delay any action.

2021: Housing Scam payouts hit $42 million.
Autism Fraud $183 million.
Feeding Fraud peaks at nearly $200 million.
Money is diverted to luxury vehicles and real estate in Kenya, Turkey, and the U.S.

2022: Housing Scam $74 million.
Autism Fraud $279 million. Autism providers surge to 328, many are Somali, closing the fraud loop with stacked schemes.
DOJ indicts 47 initially in Feeding Scam~$250 million, 77 charged overall.
Ilhan Omar only returns $7,400 in donations from implicated donors.

2023: Housing Scam $104 million.
Autism Fraud $399 million.
Remittances to Somalia $1.7 billion.
AG charges 18 Somalis in a $9.5 million Medicaid fraud case.

2024: Ongoing indictments, including 3 Somalis in an $11 million Medicaid fraud.
Autism center raids by FBI, multiple providers suspended.
Feeding Scam Trial, 5 Somalis indicted for jury tampering, stalked a juror with GPS monitoring on her car and left $120K on her doorstep in exchange for a not guilty vote.

2025: HSS: $61 million in first half, program terminated August 1, 77 providers cut for fraud.
September 18, 8 indicted in HSS 6 Somali, plus 56th guilty plea in Feeding Scam.
September 24: First autism indictment for $14 million scheme.

Total scandals: 28+ since Walz’s election.
Billions stolen and millions funneled abroad to Al-Shabaab and others.