Minnesota fraud scandal intensifies debate over stripping citizenship
A massive fraud scandal tied to taxpayer-funded daycare, Medicaid and social services programs in Minnesota — involving potentially billions of dollars in suspicious billing — is prompting renewed scrutiny of...
By Fox News · Fox News
A massive fraud scandal tied to taxpayer-funded daycare, Medicaid and social services programs in Minnesota — involving potentially billions of dollars in suspicious billing — is prompting renewed scrutiny of whether some naturalized Americans obtained U.S. citizenship under false pretenses, and whether denaturalization could now be used more aggressively. The fallout already has led the Department of Health and Human Services to freeze certain child-care payments to Minnesota, citing alleged fraud involving daycare providers throughout the past decade. Immigration authorities have confirmed they are reviewing whether fraud uncovered in Minnesota could provide the legal basis to revoke U.S. citizenship from naturalized individuals who concealed or misrepresented material facts during the immigration process. Denaturalization is legally constrained, requires individualized civil court proceedings and historically has been used sparingly. KAROLINE LEAVITT WARNS 'PEOPLE WILL BE IN HANDCUFFS' AS FEDS ZERO IN ON MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL Attorney David Schoen said it remains legally viable but under extraordinary circumstances. He said on Fox News the process would likely trigger "significant" court challenges but "it is legally possible. In an extraordinary circumstance, we'd have to know the facts." Schoen emphasized that immigration law already provides clearer mechanisms for removing noncitizens, particularly lawful permanent residents, who violate the law, describing denaturalization as a far more extraordinary step requiring fact-specific scrutiny. COMER SUMMONS MINNESOTA OFFICIALS AS HOUSE PROBES MASSIVE SOCIAL SERVICES FRAUD White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox & Friends that the administration is "not afraid to use denaturalization," and confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State Department are "looking at" whether citizenship could be revoked in connection with those of Somali origin in the Minnesota fraud prob…