Minn Rep Tom Emmer calls to deport, denaturalize Somali immigrants guilty of fraud

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer is calling for the deportation of Somalis connected to widespread fraud schemes in Minnesota, including the revocation of US citizenship for naturalized individuals, as federal investigations into the activity continue to expand.

In a statement posted to social media, Emmer said those found to have defrauded American taxpayers should be removed from the country, regardless of immigration status. He said he would support changes to federal law if necessary to make that possible.

“I have three words regarding Somalis who have committed fraud against American taxpayers: Send them home,” Emmer wrote. “If they’re here illegally, deport them immediately; if they’re naturalized citizens, revoke their citizenship and deport them quickly thereafter.”

Emmer added, “If we need to change the law to do that, I will. Our nation will not tolerate those who take advantage of our charity and refuse to assimilate into our culture.”

The comments come amid massive backlash over Minnesota’s handling of apparent fraud involving childcare services and other publicly funded programs. On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that federal authorities are operating on the ground in the state as part of what it described as a “massive investigation” into widespread fraud.

Federal prosecutors earlier this month announced the charges against six additional individuals tied to the schemes, bringing the total number of people charged to 92. 

Authorities are examining suspicious billing practices across 14 Medicaid-funded programs. Prosecutors have said a preliminary assessment suggests that more than half of the $18 billion spent on those programs may have been improperly billed or stolen.

Emmer’s position shows a 180 from comments he made a decade earlier. In 2015, Emmer held a town hall in his Minnesota district where residents raised concerns about the rapid growth of the Somali community and their inability or unwillingness to integrate.

Constituents spoke out against the encroachment of Somali culture into their communities. They said that they were concerned that it was happening too fast. Emmer told them this was basically racist and to quiet their worry that the Somalis weren’t assimilating to American life.

Ten years later, he’s demanding they be deported because it turned out that his constituents’ fears were well founded.