A story presenting the stereotype that being member of a ethnical group dictates antisocial behaviour should logically be refuted by presenting examples of people in the same group acting morally. As well as by modern science in general. Still, gossip stories do not play on logics, but on emotions.
A right-wing influencer have spread a story claiming that Somalians in Minnesota have set up false childcare institutions without children, to scam money from the state. The influencer Nick Shirley released a video where «he knocked on day care doors, demanded to see children and said he had exposed a billion-dollar child care fraud scheme involving Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota’s Somali community» The video was according to MS NOW presented as proof that there were no children in the institutions. Shirley has 1,6 million subscribers on YouTube. CBS states that Shirleys video on X had more than 116 million views.
Shirley has a clear connection to the Trump government, and participated in Trumps “Antifa roundtable conference”, CNN reports. MPR clarifies that the investigation of frauds started in 2019, when Biden was president.
Trump stereotyping Somalians
As a secondary story Somalians are stereotyped. President Trump has according to CBS «largely blamed the Somali community, calling Somali immigrants “garbage” who “contribute nothing,” which has incensed Minnesota lawmakers, who have accused him of demonising the community at large. Mr. Trump ended temporary deportation protections for Somali immigrants who live in Minnesota, claiming without evidence that “Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State.”»
The story legitimated repressive government politics
BBC has reported that the story has been spread through wide conservative circles, and has legitimated stopping all child care payments to the State of Minnesota. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ended Temporary Protected Status for Somalia, requiring an estimated 2,400–2,471 Somali nationals to leave the U.S. by March 17, 2026, reported by The Guardian.
The evidence in the video are proven false
The Minnesotas Department of Children, Youth, and Families rebuked the story Jan. 2. 2026 as cited by Snopes:
«This week OIG investigators conducted on-site compliance checks at nine child care centers referenced in a recently circulated video. Investigators confirmed the centers were operating as expected, gathered evidence and initiated further review. Children were present at all sites except for one — that site, was not yet open for families for the day when inspectors arrived.»
“On Dec. 16, 2025, security footage shows various people throughout the day dropping off young children at the state-licensed ABC Learning Center in Minneapolis. That same day, YouTuber Nick Shirley arrived and claimed that the day care was among many in Minnesota that were empty.”, as cited from CBS.
«While Shirley’s video focused on allegations of fraud in daycares in Minneapolis, federal investigators told CBS News child care is only “vaguely” a priority for prosecutors, and attention and resources are instead focused on more than a dozen other social services programs in Minnesota, including nutrition, housing and behavioral health.», cited from CBS
What does the video claim to uncover ?
Nothing conclusive, as reported by Louisiana IIluminator, which states that;
- “The video shows Shirley visiting day cares run by Somali Americans, sometimes under the false pretense of trying to enroll a child.”
- “In a couple of instances, workers do open the door but seem immediately suspicious when it’s clear Shirley is recording them and refuse to let him in or give him more information.”
- “Because some of the sites appear closed and Shirley doesn’t see any children, he declares this as proof of fraud at these facilities.”
- “Most child care centers are locked and have obscured doors or windows for children’s safety.”
- “Children are also kept in classrooms and would not likely be visible from a reception area.”
- “One of the day cares in the video told several news outlets that it did not grant Shirley entrance because he showed up with a handful of masked men, which raised suspicions that the men were agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires websites and online services to get parental consent before collecting or using children’s photos online, which explains why childcare centers prohibit unauthorised photography to protect children’s privacy and comply with these regulations.
Does the story tell any truth ?
The story as presented in the video is false, as the claims presented are proven false. To answer the question if the story tells any truth, you have to ask if the data presented are representative. There have been uncovered frauds in Minnesota, among others also done by Somalians. But not to the extent that is claimed. The founder of a nonprofit group called «Feeding Our Future», a white women, was described by the prosecutors as a «mastermind behind a 250 million fraud scheme», The Independent reports.
«The group claimed to work with restaurants and caterers to distribute meals to schools and extracurricular programs but instead submitted fake meal count sheets and invoices», CBS writes.
In 2025 8 people eight people were charged with defrauding housing aid program. Five more people, two of them from Pennsylvania have been charged with fraud within the same program. A third defendant was charged with fraudulently claiming $1.4 million. Prosecutors say he flew to Amsterdam. Two people have recently been accused of frauding an authism program, CBS continues.
Somalians have been involved in the fraud cases in Minnesota. «Over the course of several years, 98 people have been charged, 85 of them of Somali origin, according to White House figures», El Pais writes.
According to CBS, there have been court cases about frauds in the Covid era where investigations starting in 2021 led to a total of 62 convictions.There are 107 000 Somalians in Minnesota. 87 % of them are US. citizens. 58 % of Somali Minnesotans are are born in USA. Only 0,08 % of Somalians have been involved in the fraud cases.
Right-wing influencers with exagurrated numbers
MS NOW cites Right wing influencer and earlier FBI second-in-command Dan Bongino, who said; «“The Somalians and theft and, I guess you studied it, but I hear it’s over $19 billion”.
An analysis by the Minnesota Star Tribune estimated that it was below $ 220 million. The story spread in conservative circles. Shirleys video was according to MS NOW watched millions of times.
CNN writes that Shirleys video «includes limited evidence for the creator’s allegations, has received more than 2.6 million views on YouTube as of Wednesday and was retweeted by Vice President JD Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel and former Department of Government Efficiency leader Elon Musk.»
“This dude has done far more useful journalism than any of the winners of the 2024 @pulitzercenter prizes,” Vice President JD Vance posted on X.
J. D. Vance and Trump is also known for having spread the false story of Haitians eating cats.
Anther right-wing influencer, Nick Sortor (1,4 million followers on X), made according to MS NOW a video where he claimed to have a «near-death escape from rioters. He called the city “lawless” and “a total loss,” and urged Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act.» MS NOW describes that his clips has become talking point on conservative prime-time shows.
The manufacturing of a story
“This is their profession,” said Joan Donovan, an assistant professor of journalism at Boston University to MS NOW:
“They gin up outrage, film it and then use that content to recruit followers, get paid on social platforms or convert it into political currency that gets them closer to power,” Donovan said. “Are they a political activist or a clout-chasing influencer, or are they there to report the facts?”