MINNEAPOLIS — Federal law enforcement officials executed several search warrants throughout Minnesota on Tuesday as part of a continuing investigation into fraudulent activities targeting government-funded social programs, according to authorities.
Officials provided limited information about the operation. The action represents the most recent friction between federal authorities and Minnesota officials, following months of immigration enforcement activities that resulted in two fatalities before policies were modified.
Prior to the recent enforcement surge, federal investigators pursued cases against numerous individuals, including many Somali Americans, accused of stealing from a federal nutrition program designed to feed children.
“Homeland Security Investigations in cooperation with our law enforcement partners executed criminal search warrants in Minneapolis relating to the rampant fraud of U.S. taxpayers dollars,” the department said.
Neither the department nor Immigration and Customs Enforcement provided additional details when contacted about the operations.
Earlier this year in February, Vice President JD Vance announced the Trump administration would “temporarily halt” $243 million in Minnesota Medicaid funding due to fraud-related concerns, describing it as part of an intensive effort to combat public fund misuse. Minnesota responded by filing a lawsuit, cautioning that healthcare services for low-income residents could face cuts if the funding remained frozen.
During March congressional testimony, Governor Tim Walz expressed his willingness to collaborate with federal officials on fraud investigations, but noted that increased immigration enforcement was complicating those efforts.
“The people of Minnesota have been singled out and targeted for political retribution at an unparalleled scale,” Walz said at the time.
