Somali-Owned Day Care Vandalized as Federal Freeze Threatens Child Care Assistance in Minnesota
A Somali-owned child care center in South Minneapolis was vandalized in late December, compounding anxiety for families and providers already facing uncertainty from a federal freeze on Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program funding. Advocates warn the combined impact of harassment, misinformation, and disrupted funding could endanger thousands of children and working families across the state.
Vandalism, misinformation add fear
A Somali-owned child care center in South Minneapolis was vandalized early Dec. 30, compounding uncertainty for families who rely on federal child care assistance to afford early learning and care. The break-in comes as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has frozen billions of dollars in annual child care funds to Minnesota pending audits, a move critics say could hurt tens of thousands of children across the state.
Nokomis Daycare Center reported damage to walls and sensitive documents containing family and children’s information. Police say the incident occurred between 3 and 6 a.m., and security footage shows one or possibly two individuals near the building. No arrests have been made; the investigation is ongoing.
The vandalism followed days after a conservative YouTube video alleging fraud at Minnesota child care centers went viral, and shortly before the Trump administration’s freeze on Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) funds was announced. CCAP helps low-income families pay for child care so parents can work or children have access to early education, and the freeze is in place until audited documentation is provided.
“This is not made up,” said Nokomis Daycare manager Nasrulah Mohamed during a Wednesday press conference. “Parents are worried about their children’s safety and how they’re going to make ends meet.”
State data show that CCAP assists roughly 23,000 children from more than 12,000 families each month, with nearly 4,000 registered child care providers participating in the program. Most families rely on the program to continue employment.
More than 70% of families in one portion of the assistance use CCAP so a caregiver can work. Child care providers, in turn, depend on reliable funding from CCAP, with 71% of licensed child care centers in Minnesota accepting CCAP.
State and community advocates said the freeze could have devastating effects. “Our child care assistance program serves over 20,000 kids in over 4,000 programs,” said Maplewood provider Mary Solheim, who attended the press event in support of Nokomis Daycare. “That’s 20,000 kids whose parents can’t go to work. That’s 4,000 child care programs whose teachers aren’t getting paid.”
Parents at the press conference said the combination of vandalism and the funding freeze has already created fear and disrupted routines. Sacdiyo Aden, whose children attend Nokomis Daycare, said they can no longer continue regular care.
“I bring my kids here while I’m at work,” Aden said. “Now I cannot bring my kids anymore because they are too scared, and I don’t have anyone to stay home with them.”
Aden said she supports accountability for misuse of funds but feels Somali-owned centers are being unfairly targeted. “Whoever commits crimes should be caught,” she said. “I support the government in doing accountability, but this feels like it’s not fair to us.”
Community organizers echoed that sentiment Wednesday. A statement read by Amira Aden on behalf of another Somali child care provider described a climate of fear that has forced some providers to avoid public comment.
“In our culture, lying is a great offense,” the statement said. “It makes it even more difficult to understand why a video full of misinformation is what is promoting our federal government … to freeze child care funding in our state.” The statement added that Somali child care centers follow all state rules and regulations like other programs.
“We care for those children like they are our own,” the statement read. “Yet because we are Somali we are being targeted and accused of fraud.”
The federal action affects about $185 million annually in child care funding that the state receives, according to federal officials. That funding is critical to keeping many CCAP-accepting centers afloat and ensuring parents can continue employment while children are in early learning settings.
Minnesota officials have criticized the freeze as overly broad and politically motivated, especially given long-standing efforts at oversight and compliance. Child care advocates warn that losing access to stable, predictable funding will exacerbate an already strained system and could push more providers to close or reduce capacity.
Later Wednesday, Dec. 31, community members gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol to call on lawmakers to restore funding and ensure the safety of child care providers and families. The group urged policymakers to consider how disruptions to child care financing can ripple through communities, affecting not just early learning but broader family stability and economic participation.
Lizzy Nyoike is a Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication student.