DHS hypes worksite enforcement as fraud allegations rip through Minnesota
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ICE is putting worksite enforcement on the front-burner amid viral uproar over fraud allegations at government-funded child care centers in Minnesota.
Why it matters: Throughout 2025, the administration downplayed the potential for broad worksite raids and labor enforcement. It received public pushback in instances when it did happen and the administration apologized after a major raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia.
- The Department of Homeland Security's social media campaign hasn't typically highlighted the worksite enforcement arm of ICE's operations.
- But in a post sharing video of a business site visit in Minnesota, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrote, "More coming."
Driving the news: The most recent wave of enforcement comes after a popular video from YouTuber Nick Shirley claimed that there was fraud at multiple day care centers in the area. Both Noem and FBI director Kash Patel responded to the allegations.
- Earlier in December, the local U.S. Attorney's Office charged six people and secured a guilty plea from one woman in ongoing fraud schemes.
DHS is posting videos on social media showing ICE's investigative team, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), conducting visits to business in the name of fighting "rampant fraud plaguing Minnesota."
- This is a typical function for HSI, which is the investigative arm of ICE.
- "We've already heard many businesses who have received some subpoenas for documents," said Jaylani Hussein, executive director of Minnesota's chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, commonly known as CAIR.
Zoom in: In one DHS video, officers can be heard asking an employee at a convenience store about E-Verify, a federal program that helps business owners check employees' work authorization status.
- The HSI officers also say that a few days prior to the visit a "notice of inspection" was delivered, which starts the I-9 audit process to verify the legal status of a business's workforce.
Zoom out: The attention on fraud in Minnesota has been a months-long project for DHS with Operation Twin Shield, starting in September, and President Trump calling attention to the issue at a Cabinet meeting in early December.
- "The American people deserve answers on how their taxpayer money is being used and ARRESTS when abuse is found," a DHS spokesperson said in a statement to Axios.
- "Our investigative agents are conducting a massive operation to identify, arrest, and remove criminals who are defrauding the American people. We will root out this rampant fraud plaguing Minnesota."
