Somali Child Care Centers Face National Scrutiny Amid Fraud Claims

In recent months, Somali-run child care centers across the United States have found themselves at the center of a heated debate, thrust into the national spotlight by viral allegations of fraud and a wave of scrutiny from right-wing influencers and journalists. What began as a single video posted online has spiraled into a nationwide controversy, raising questions about the safety of immigrant communities, the integrity of child care subsidy programs, and the broader political environment shaping these conversations.

It all started on December 26, 2025, when right-wing influencer Nick Shirley released a video accusing members of Minneapolis’s large Somali community of running fake child care centers to collect federal subsidies. According to The Associated Press, Shirley’s claims quickly gained traction, drawing the attention of the White House amid the administration’s intensified immigration crackdown. The video’s allegations, however, were soon disproven by inspectors, who found no evidence that business owners were billing the government for children they were not caring for. Despite the lack of substantiation, the damage had already been done—sparking a wave of fear, harassment, and increased scrutiny directed at Somali child care providers from Minneapolis to San Diego, Federal Way, and Columbus.

Samsam Khalif, a child care provider in San Diego, recounted a harrowing experience that has become all too common for her peers. As she was shuttling children to her home-based center, she noticed two men with a camera waiting in a car parked outside. "I’m scared. I don’t know what their intention is," Khalif told The Associated Press. Fearing for the safety of the children, she circled the block several times before unloading them and later installed additional security cameras outside her home.

The situation in Minneapolis has been equally tense. Providers there describe being antagonized by strangers peering through windows, right-wing journalists showing up unannounced, and even more disturbing incidents. One provider, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described watching someone emerge from a circling car and defecate near the center’s entrance. On the same day, a motorist drove by, yelling that the center was a "fake day care." The provider has since implemented new lockdown procedures, budgeted for security, and keeps the blinds closed to shield children from both unwanted visitors and the possibility of witnessing immigration enforcement actions. "I can’t have peace of mind about whether the center will be safe today," she said. "That’s a hard pill to swallow."

These incidents are not isolated. In Federal Way, Washington, and Columbus, Ohio—both home to sizable Somali communities—right-wing journalists and influencers have been showing up unannounced at child care centers, sometimes filming through windows or pressing providers for proof of legitimacy. In one video, a man arrived at a Columbus center, filming through the glass front door and questioning its authenticity. Ohio authorities responded by dispatching an inspector, who confirmed that the building was indeed a legitimate child care center. However, the center’s voicemail was subsequently hacked, with callers subjected to racist slurs and hateful messages, as reported by WOSU-FM.

In Washington state, the situation escalated to the point where child care workers called the police on journalists who repeatedly appeared outside their homes. Journalists from the right-leaning outlet Center Square filmed themselves confronting a provider, demanding proof she operated a legitimate center. When she refused to answer, they pressed further: "Are you aware of the Somali day care fraud? We're just trying to check out if this is a real day care. Where are the children?"

Public officials have responded in various ways. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson posted a statement on X, declaring she would not tolerate anyone trying to "intimidate, harass or film Somali child care providers." On the other hand, Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, issued a warning emphasizing the rights of citizen journalists. "Asking questions/citizen journalism are NOT HATE CRIMES in America—they are protected speech, and if Seattle tries to chill that speech, @CivilRights will step in to protect it and set them straight!" Dhillon stated.

In Ohio, Republican Governor Mike DeWine took a firm stand against the fraud allegations, holding a news conference in January 2026 to debunk claims about a Columbus child care center. He assured the public that the state diligently monitors all centers receiving public money. Addressing the issue of access, DeWine remarked, "It shouldn’t be a shock when someone sees something on social media, and someone is going, ‘I can’t get into this place, no one will let me in.’ Well, hell, no! No one should let them in." Nevertheless, despite these assurances, Republicans in the Ohio Statehouse introduced legislation requiring centers that accept public funds to provide live video feeds of their classrooms to state officials.

Amid these controversies, the broader context of child care subsidies in the United States has also come under scrutiny. According to recent data from the federal government’s Office of Child Care, just over $29 billion was spent on child care subsidies in fiscal year 2022, with funds coming from both federal and state sources. These subsidies cover a range of costs, including program quality, staff training, and administrative expenses, as reported by SmartAsset and Stacker. States vary widely in how much federal subsidy money is spent per resident child under five, with New Mexico leading at $1,782 per child and South Dakota at the bottom with $482. Minnesota, where much of the recent controversy has unfolded, ranks among the lowest at $629 per child.

The cost of child care itself is another pressing issue. Massachusetts and Minnesota are among the most expensive states for child care, with weekly median infant care prices at $462 and $390, respectively. For toddler care, the weekly median is $409 in Massachusetts and $348 in Minnesota, while preschool care costs $310 and $309 per week, respectively. In contrast, states like Mississippi and Alabama offer much lower weekly median costs, with infant care at $119 and $136, respectively.

These financial pressures are compounded by ongoing funding threats to child care subsidy programs. Lengthy waiting lists persist in many states, making it difficult for parents to return to work. The Trump administration previously attempted to freeze child care funding for Minnesota and five other Democratic-led states, only releasing the funds after a court order. President Donald Trump has repeatedly targeted Somali immigrants with dehumanizing rhetoric, calling them "garbage" and "low IQ," and suggesting that Rep. Ilhan Omar should be deported. In Minnesota, however, 87% of foreign-born Somalis are naturalized U.S. citizens.

Trump’s rhetoric intensified after Shirley’s video, particularly in light of a years-old fraud case in which a network of fraudsters—many Somali Americans—bilked Minnesota out of an estimated $300 million meant to help feed children and families. Still, child care advocates argue that the current wave of allegations is detracting from more urgent crises. Ruth Friedman, former head of the Office of Child Care under President Joe Biden, accused Trump and Republicans of manufacturing a crisis for political gain. "They are using it to try to discredit the movement toward investing in child care," Friedman said. In response, Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon stated that the department "rejects the claim that concerns about child care program integrity are manufactured" and encouraged people to report suspected fraud.

As the debate rages on, Somali child care providers and the families they serve are left grappling with fear, uncertainty, and a sense that their hard-won safe spaces are under siege. The future of child care funding and the well-being of both providers and children now hang in the balance, caught between political maneuvering, real financial challenges, and the urgent need for trust and stability in communities nationwide.