FBI Raids 22 Somali-Linked Sites in New Minneapolis ‘Rampant Fraud' Probe

Federal authorities on Tuesday executed more than 20 court‑approved search warrants across the Minneapolis area as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged fraud involving publicly funded social programs.

The coordinated raids at Somali-linked businesses highlight an intensifying federal crackdown on suspected misuse of taxpayer money and deepen tensions between the Trump administration and Minnesota officials.

The investigation could expose additional criminal charges, further scrutiny of state oversight of aid programs, and renewed financial pressure on Minnesota after recent threats to withhold federal funding.

The Justice Department confirmed that FBI and Homeland Security Investigations agents served 22 search warrants, stressing the operation was tied to fraud allegations and not immigration enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security told Newsweek the searches targeted what it called "rampant fraud of U.S. taxpayer dollars," though officials released few details about potential suspects or programs under review.

Newsweek has reached out to the DOJ and FBI via email Tuesday morning for contact.

The raids come amid rising tensions between the Trump administration and Minnesota officials. Those strains have been exacerbated by a months‑long federal immigration crackdown in the state that authorities said was later eased after two people died during the operation.

A DHS spokesperson told Newsweek, "The American people deserve to know how their taxpayer money was abused. No stone will be left unturned."

Minnesota has previously been the focus of major federal fraud prosecutions involving public assistance programs. In earlier cases, prosecutors charged dozens of people - many of them Somali Americans - with orchestrating schemes that siphoned millions of dollars from a federal program intended to provide meals to children.

In February, Vice President JD Vance announced the administration would "temporarily halt" about $243 million in Medicaid funding to Minnesota over fraud concerns. The state sued in response, warning that the funding freeze could force cuts to health care for low‑income residents.

Vance posted Tuesday morning on X, “The task force and the DOJ will be relentless in exposing these fraudsters wherever they may be hiding.”

Democratic Gov. Tim Walz told Congress in March that Minnesota wants to cooperate with federal fraud investigations but said overlapping enforcement actions were straining that effort.

This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow.

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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 8:15 AM.