DOJ Accused of Fast-Tracking Somali Immigration Cases in Minnesota | Unfair Process?
Two Minnesota-based legal organizations have filed a lawsuit alleging the Justice Department is unlawfully accelerating the deportation proceedings of Somali immigrants, potentially violating their right to due process. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, claims the expedited process denies individuals adequate time to prepare a legal defense and seek asylum.
The allegations come as the Justice Department continues to pursue a large-scale fraud investigation in Minnesota, with a significant number of those charged being of Somali descent. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Monday that 98 individuals have been arrested and charged with fraud, 85 of whom are Somali, according to a report by MSN.
The Justice Department’s focus on fraud within the Somali community has drawn scrutiny, particularly in light of the new claims regarding immigration case processing. The lawsuit asserts that the expedited procedures are disproportionately affecting Somali nationals and are being implemented without sufficient transparency.
Federal prosecutors have secured 63 convictions in the “Feeding Our Future” fraud scheme, which involved the theft of $14.6 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds intended to feed children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Five individuals – Ikram Yusuf Mohamed, Aisha Hassan Hussein, Sahra Sharif Osman, Shakur Abdinur Abdisalam, and Fadumo Mohamed Yusuf – pleaded guilty to wire fraud this week, according to a press release from the Department of Justice. The defendants, many of whom are related, allegedly operated fraudulent food program sites in Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs.
U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen stated, “I am proud of our team of prosecutors, federal agents, and law enforcement partners who continue to expose the rampant fraud in Minnesota.” The Trump Administration has prioritized combating fraud, recently establishing the President’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a multiagency effort aimed at protecting federal benefits.
The Justice Department began investigating the fraud in Minnesota months ago, with the initial 47 individuals charged in 2022, according to a fact check by PolitiFact. The investigation has expanded significantly since then, leading to the recent arrests and guilty pleas.
The defendants in the “Feeding Our Future” case were scheduled to proceed to trial on April 20, 2026, before Judge Nancy E. Brasel, but ultimately entered guilty pleas on March 18 and 20, 2026. The case is being prosecuted under United States v. Mohamed et al., 24-cr-15 (NEB/DTS).
The Justice Department has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the allegations in the lawsuit concerning the expedited deportation proceedings.