U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that his administration would work to revoke the citizenship of naturalized Americans if they are convicted of fraud-related crimes, explicitly referencing immigrants “from Somalia or anywhere else.”
Speaking at an event hosted by the Detroit Economic Club, President Trump stated that individuals found guilty of fraud would face imprisonment and deportation. “If you come to the United States to defraud American citizens, we will put you in jail, and then we will send you back to where you came from,” Trump said, drawing applause from some members of the audience.
The remarks come as the president continues to amplify claims of widespread fraud and corruption involving government-funded social programs, particularly those supporting child care and subsidized food assistance. Trump specifically mentioned Minnesota, a state home to a large Somali-American population. The Twin Cities area hosts the largest Somali community in the United States.
Federal and state authorities are still conducting investigations into the alleged fraud, but no final or comprehensive official findings have yet been released. Despite the ongoing nature of the probes, the Trump administration announced the suspension of certain federal funds allocated to child care assistance programs in five states governed by Democratic administrations.
The affected states, California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York—have since filed a lawsuit, arguing that the funding freeze violates federal law. A federal judge last week ordered a temporary halt to the administration’s decision while the case is under review.
President Trump has repeatedly cited what he describes as widespread fraud and criminal behavior by immigrants to justify tougher immigration and citizenship policies. Critics, however, argue that such statements are often based on unproven allegations and disproportionately target immigrant communities, including Somali-Americans.
Several academic and policy studies have found that immigrants, including naturalized citizens, are generally less likely to commit violent crimes than individuals born in the United States. Advocacy groups have also warned that broad rhetoric linking immigration to criminal activity risks fueling stigma and discrimination against minority communities.
The latest comments are expected to further intensify debate over immigration enforcement, citizenship protections, and the legal limits of executive authority, as the administration pushes forward with stricter policies ahead of ongoing legal and political challenges.
