U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) chaired a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration hearing titled “Somali Fraud in Minnesota – The Tip of the Iceberg.” The hearing followed reports of childcare service fraud by Somali nationals in Minnesota, which led to public concern.
Cornyn addressed the issue, stating, “When the news broke about the level of childcare service fraud by Somali nationals in Minnesota, the American people were rightly shocked and outraged.”
He criticized reactions from some media outlets and political groups after federal authorities responded to the situation. “Sadly, as soon as the magnitude of the fraud was identified and amplified by an independent investigator, following an appropriate surge of DHS immigration resources into Minnesota, the mainstream media and the radical Left immediately began to call the U.S. government’s actions racist,” he said.
Cornyn emphasized that such incidents are not isolated. “Fraud is fraud, and this recent episode, unfortunately, appears to be just the tip of the iceberg.”
The Government Accountability Office recently estimated that annual losses from fraud and improper payments could range between $233 billion and $521 billion. Cornyn referenced this figure: “Recently, the Government Accountability Office estimated that the federal government loses between $233 billion [and] $521 billion annually due to fraud and improper payments.”
He also cited findings from former President Trump’s administration regarding illegal immigrants who received Medicaid benefits while being arrested for various crimes. “President Trump’s team at the White House has uncovered numerous examples of illegal aliens arrested for crimes who have also been receiving Medicaid, and these individuals have been arrested for a variety of crimes ranging from child abuse to domestic battery to burglary to murder.”
Cornyn pointed out that online searches reveal many cases where foreign nationals have been convicted for different types of fraud. “A quick internet search will reveal numerous instances of foreign nationals who’ve been convicted for fraud, everything from wire fraud, manufacturing and selling counterfeit documents, fraudulently obtaining mass numbers of H-2B visas and much more. None of these crimes are victimless.”
He proposed several measures to address these issues: prioritizing thorough security vetting over speed; requiring agencies to use biometric identification; verifying each individual’s identity before granting benefits or loans; conducting automated checks; random audits; and in-person verification for all programs distributing public funds.
“What can the government do about it? First, we can begin by prioritizing the thoroughness of security vetting, rather than speed,” Cornyn said.
“We can also require agencies to require biometric identification and verify each alien’s identity before they may be granted any federal, state, or local public benefit, loan, or grant. Furthermore, we can require automated and recurrent identity verification, random audits, and in-person identity verification for all federal and state programs that provide funds for public services or programs.”
Cornyn concluded with a statement on governmental responsibility: “It is our responsibility as a U.S. government to protect the American people. It’s also our duty to protect the American people and preserve the integrity of our republic. If we fail in those duties, we won’t have a country any longer.”
Senator Cornyn has served multiple terms in office after winning elections against MJ Hegar in 2020 with 53.5% of votes compared to Hegar’s 43.9%, David Alameel in 2014 with 61.6% over Alameel’s 34.3%, Ron Kirk in 2002 with 55% versus Kirk’s 43%, and Rick Noriega in 2008 with 54.8% against Noriega’s 42.8%.
