Hope Walz Criticizes ICE In Holiday Social Media Post

Hope Walz, the daughter of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and a former vice-presidential candidate, sent out a Christmas message that included a criticism of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In a video posted to social media on Christmas Day, Hope Walz said she stands with communities that she says are being hurt by the agency’s actions.

“In a video posted to social media on Christmas Day, Hope Walz said, “I just wanted to say Merry Christmas to all. Today I am holding all of our neighbors that ICE has been terrorizing near and dear to my heart, and sending them love and light, as well as all of our unhoused folks and just anybody that may be struggling right now,” Hope Walz said.

“I’m holding very close to me, and I hope that you can all do so as well. This past year has been a tough one for all of us, but I’m so proud of the work that I have done in this awesome community and everything that you guys do every day. And yeah, happy holidays,” she added.

WATCH:

FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the bureau is pursuing fraud in Minnesota following allegations of a daycare stealing $4 million from taxpayers.

Patel wrote a long post on X on Sunday saying that the FBI has known about fraud claims in the state for a long time and threatened to take action against those who commit them.

“The FBI is aware of recent social media reports in Minnesota. However, even before the public conversation escalated online, the FBI had surged personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs. Fraud that steals from taxpayers and robs vulnerable children will remain a top FBI priority in Minnesota and nationwide,” Patel began in a lengthy tweet.

“To date, the FBI dismantled a $250 million fraud scheme that stole federal food aid meant for vulnerable children during COVID. The investigation exposed sham vendors, shell companies, and large-scale money laundering tied to the Feeding Our Future network,” Patel continued.

He added, “The case led to 78 indictments and 57 convictions. Defendants included Abdiwahab Ahmed Mohamud, Ahmed Ali, Hussein Farah, Abdullahe Nur Jesow, Asha Farhan Hassan, Ousman Camara, and Abdirashid Bixi Dool, each charged for roles ranging from wire fraud to money laundering and conspiracy. These criminals didn’t just engaged in historic fraud, but tried to subvert justice as well. Abdimajid Mohamed Nur and others were charged for attempting to bribe a juror with $120,000 in cash. Those responsible pleaded guilty and were sentenced, including a 10-year prison term and nearly $48 million in restitution in related cases.”

His comments came after Nick Shirley, an independent journalist, shared footage of a Minnesota daycare that looked empty but got millions of dollars from taxpayers.

Lawmakers were outraged by footage of the center, which had a sign that misspelled “Quality Learing Center.” They said that state officials let the “largest fraud in US history” go unchecked.

The alleged daycare fraud was the most recent in a long line of cases in Minnesota where public money was misused. One of the biggest was a scheme during the COVID pandemic that involved the federally funded nonprofit group Feeding Our Future.

At least 78 people, 72 of whom are Somali, have been charged in connection with the illegal plan.

Patel stressed in his announcement that the FBI has been going after a huge fraud network that stole money from a food program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prosecutors said that most of the meals that were supposed to go to low-income kids during the pandemic never happened. Instead, the money went to expensive homes, cars, jewelry, and real estate in other countries.

Also, a campaign worker for Ilhan Omar, a Somali-American congresswoman who has represented Minnesota’s 5th district since 2019, said he served 5,000 meals a day under the fake food site Advance Athletic Development.

He instead took millions of dollars and admitted to fraud in August of this year.

During Omar’s 2018 and 2020 campaigns, he was in charge of a high-intensity voter mobilization effort in the Somali community in Minneapolis.

This comes after it was alleged that Minnesota’s government lost at least $1 billion in public funds intended for feeding children, helping the homeless, and providing autism therapy.

Over the past five years, people mostly from Somali communities grew rich running companies that charged the state millions for social services that never happened, according to The New York Times.