By our man in Washington
DONALD TRUMP has sensationally vowed to strip naturalised immigrants of their US citizenship if they are caught “defrauding” the American people.
The firebrand President took aim at “scam artists” in a blistering speech, specifically naming the Somali community in Minnesota as he promised a “day of reckoning” for those abusing the system.
Speaking to a cheering crowd at the Detroit Economic Club on Tuesday, Trump warned that nobody who lies or cheats to get into the US—or rips off the taxpayer once they arrive—is safe.
“We’re going to revoke the citizenship of any naturalised immigrant from Somalia or anywhere else who is convicted of defrauding our citizens,” Trump declared.
“We’re going to get them the hell out of here fast.
If you come to America to rob Americans, we’re throwing you in jail, and we’re sending you back to the place from where you came!”
The President didn’t hold back as he targeted the Somali population in Minneapolis, who have been at the centre of a massive federal investigation into a suspected £7 billion ($9 billion) welfare fraud scheme.
With his trademark sarcasm, Trump took a swipe at the community, asking the crowd: “The Somali population… have you heard of them? They’re lovely people.”
He followed up by vowing to “crackle down” on what he called “Somali scams” that have allegedly bled the state of Minnesota dry.
The move is part of a massive surge of over 2,400 federal agents into Minneapolis—more than double the city’s own police force—as Trump ramps up his “war on fraud.”
The President also used the stage to launch a fresh broadside at his long-time rival, Somali-born Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, branding her a “total scam artist.”
The White House confirmed yesterday that it is already ending “Temporary Protected Status” for thousands of Somalis, giving them until March to leave the country as the President puts his “America First” agenda into overdrive.
The crackdown centers on Minnesota, home to the largest Somali population in the U.S.
Federal prosecutors have spent years investigating massive fraud involving pandemic-era food programmes (like Feeding Our Future) and childcare subsidies. Officials allege that criminal networks pocketed hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer money intended for hungry children.
Under U.S. law, “denaturalization” (stripping citizenship) is historically rare and usually reserved for people who lied on their initial citizenship applications (e.g., hiding a criminal past or ties to terrorism).
Trump is attempting to expand this to include those convicted of serious financial crimes after becoming citizens.
This comes amid high tensions in Minneapolis.
Last week, a federal immigration agent fatally shot a U.S. citizen during an operation, sparking riots and a lawsuit from the State of Minnesota against the Trump administration’s “aggressive” tactics.
