Unreal: Former Minnesota 'Refugee of the Year' Busted on Fraud Charges

AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto

Minnesota sure seems like it's been ground zero for various fraud and rip-off schemes. They are far from holding a monopoly, but the fraudsters in Minnesota, that bastion of liberal thought that saw fit to elect someone like Tim Walz governor not once but twice, seem to be the most blatant.

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One of the latest accused fraudsters is Salman Ahmed Elmi, accused of ripping off Medicaid to the tune of over a million dollars. And, get this: He was given the plaudit by the state of Minnesota for being "refugee of the year."

Yes, really.

An immigrant in Minnesota who once received an "outstanding refugee" award from the state government has been charged with Medicaid fraud, prompting strong backlash on social media.

Salman Ahmed Elmi is facing three counts of aiding and abetting by swindle and five counts of aiding and abetting by false representation as part of an alleged scam to bill Medicaid for over $1 million in fraudulent services, Fox 9 Minneapolis reported. The charges also allege that two members involved in the fraud scheme were tied to a sex-trafficking ring involving brothels.

In 2021, the Minnesota Department of Human Services, an agency deeply involved in the massive fraud scheme that has unfolded across the state in recent years, honored Elmi with the title "outstanding refugee" along with an Entrepreneurship Award.

Here he is in 2021 with his award.

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Looks happy, doesn't he? That was apparently before his alleged million-dollar scheme was put into play.

Minnesota has, for quite some time, been a very friendly place for "refugees," an amazing number of whom come from low- or zero-trust societies, like Somalia. They take in so many refugees that there is a state office devoted to handing out cash benefits to the "refugees." 

Reactions from Republicans were quick to start dropping:

"Fraud is so rampant in this demographic that it’s rewarded instead of punished," ACT for America Founder Brigitte Gabriel posted on X. "When the system celebrates the looters, you have a culture problem."

"Deport," Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X.

"This is the Minnesota Democrat officials created," Republican National Committee member AK Kamara posted on X. "Endless depravity and taxpayer-funded fraud."

Brigitte Gabriel hits the nail on the head here: This is a culture problem. But it's not homegrown. It was imported. When you import the Third World, you become the Third World, and that's for sure and for certain. While it's unclear precisely what place Salman Ahmed Elmi is a refugee from, Minnesota's expansive Somalian population seems to keep popping up in the various fraud investigations, whether they be home-care, day-care, meal service, or other varied fraud schemes. If it's a zero-trust society you're looking for, Somalia is as good an example as you're liable to find. These people came to the United States, were welcomed in by the state of Minnesota, were given cash assistance and various other benefits, and repaid the generosity of the American people and the residents of Minnesota by making the Somalian immigrant community a synonym for fraudsters.

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So, what's the answer?

This remains the United States, and as we are a civilized country, Salman Ahmed Elmi is entitled to due process. But that due process could just as well take the form of the State Department revoking any visa he holds, hustling him on to an airplane, and sending him back to Somalia. Honestly, I can't think of any punishment worse than that.

Editor’s Note: The American people overwhelmingly support President Trump’s law and order agenda.

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