Trump Administration Targets Somali Americans: Reviewing Citizenship Revocation over Fraud Claims in 2025

Naturalized citizenship was once considered permanent, but the Trump administration is now signaling it's a "tool" to be used against those it labels as scammers. On December 31, 2025, President Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on Somali Americans, revealing that his administration is reviewing plans to strip citizenship from individuals convicted of fraud.

Revoking Citizenship: A Rare Legal Tool and the Trump Somali Americans citizenship revocation 2025

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Fox News that the administration is "looking at" denaturalization. While legal experts emphasize that stripping citizenship from foreign-born citizens is exceedingly rare and requires a high burden of proof, the president's rhetoric suggests a shift toward more aggressive enforcement. This follows the administration's decision to freeze $185m in federal subsidies for childcare centers in Minneapolis, citing alleged widespread fraud.

Viral Allegations and Federal Surge

The crackdown gained momentum following a viral video by conservative YouTuber Nick Shirley, which garnered 127 million views on X. The video alleged that Somali American-run daycares committed massive fraud. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that out of 98 individuals charged in a wide-ranging investigation, 85 were of Somali descent. Prosecutors claim criminals defrauded the state of roughly $9bn in social assistance and $300m in COVID funding.

However, the accuracy of these claims is under fire. A CBS News investigation revealed that most daycares featured in the viral video were actually in good standing with state regulators. Governor Tim Walz accused Trump of using fraud as an excuse to "hurt working Minnesotans," noting that many charges pre-date the current administration's term.