Rep. Foxx Grills MN Gov. Walz on Immigration Enforcement and COVID Fraud

COVID-19 Fraud Scheme in Minnesota

• 💡 Minnesota experienced the nation's largest COVID-19 fraud scheme through the nonprofit Feeding Our Future.
• 🎯 This organization falsely claimed to serve 91 million meals, receiving nearly $250 million in federal funds.
• 💰 The FBI reported that these funds were used for luxury homes, cars, and lavish lifestyles while families struggled.
• ✅ Two individuals were convicted, and related investigations are ongoing, with the FBI committed to prosecuting those who defrauded federal programs.

Cooperation with Federal Immigration Enforcement

• ❓ Rep. Foxx questioned Governor Walz on whether Minnesota honors ICE detainer requests.
• 🤝 Governor Walz stated that Minnesota follows all federal and state laws, including asking for immigration status of convicted felons and coordinating with DHS for controlled handovers.
• ⚠️ Confusion exists regarding cooperation, with some Minnesota sheriffs reportedly facing risks by going above and beyond in sharing information.
• ⚖️ Walz clarified that cooperation is contingent on individuals having gone through due process and having a judicial warrant, especially for convicted felons.
• ❓ Foxx pressed on whether the state cooperates if someone is illegally present and ICE seeks to apprehend them, to which Walz responded that if they have received due process, ICE's role is to apprehend them.

Concerns Over "Sanctuary Cities" and NGO Funding

• 🇺🇸 Rep. Foxx expressed concern that "open border policies" lead to innocent American taxpayers bearing the costs.
• 💸 She inquired if Minnesota has spent state taxpayer dollars on services for undocumented immigrants and if NGOs providing these services have received federal funding.
• 🤷 Governor Walz stated he could not answer this question at the time as he did not have the information readily available.
• 🚫 Foxx introduced HR245, the Grant Integrity and Border Security Act, to prevent NGOs working against immigration laws from receiving taxpayer funds.