Jaylani Hussein, the director of the Minnesota Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), said last week that Somali’s are the real victims amid a fraud scandal that saw over $1 billion in taxpayer money funneled away from welfare programs. The bulk of those convicted were of Somali descent.
CAIR has faced heat in the last month, as both Texas and Florida have designated the group as a foreign terrorist organization.
“Of the 70 or so people charged in that case, most are members of the Somali community. Do you think that scandal is giving the White House ammunition for these attacks?” CNN anchor Boris Sanchez asked.
President Trump, in the wake of the fraud scandal, has criticized Somali immigrants, the Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, Rep. Ilhan Omar, whose district this occurred in, and others. Specifically, Trump called Somali’s “garbage” and pointed out that they disproportionately take more from state and federal welfare programs than they contribute via taxes.