FBI Raids 22 Minnesota Childcare Centers in Fraud Investigation, Sparking Official Turf War and Community Concern
Contributing writer Izzy Canizares reports on the April 28 FBI raids of 22 Minnesota childcare centers, the public dispute between Gov. Tim Walz and FBI Director Kash Patel over credit for the operation, and concerns from CAIR-MN and immigrant communities about transparency and the stigmatization of Somali communities.
Months after fraud allegations against multiple Minnesota daycares gained media attention, the FBI raided 22 childcare centers around the state in an alleged crackdown on reported fraud. Now, as state and federal officials bicker over credit for the raids, a community still healing from Metro Surge is left wondering what comes next, and what investigators are actually looking for.
“This morning, FBI Minneapolis, with support from federal, state and local law enforcement partners, conducted court-authorized law enforcement activity as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation,” the Minneapolis FBI office said in a statement posted April 28 on Facebook.
Videos from the scene showed agents using a battering ram to break down the door of at least one of the targeted buildings. Among the sites raided was Quality Learning Center, which had been the subject of online harassment following a January YouTube video about Minnesota daycare fraud posted by conservative influencer Nick Shirley. The video went viral and reignited debate about fraud in Minnesota, particularly among daycare and autism centers, though much of the conversation, especially on the conservative side, placed blame squarely on Somali communities.
“We recognize the seriousness of any allegations involving misuse of public funds and support lawful investigations with transparency and due process,” said Suleiman Adan, deputy executive director of CAIR-MN. “But community leaders are deeply concerned about the broader impact these operations and public narratives may have on immigrant and refugee communities, particularly when entire communities are stigmatized based on the alleged actions of individuals.”
Shirley’s claims about the daycares he targeted were quickly disputed by both local news outlets and state officials. Nevertheless, the video spurred a wave of threatening calls and attempts to film inside targeted centers. It has not been confirmed that any of the other sites mentioned in Shirley’s video are among those raided.
As more information emerged, federal and state officials appeared to disagree sharply on who deserves credit for the operation.
“If you commit fraud in Minnesota you’re going to get caught, and that’s exactly what we saw today,” Gov. Tim Walz wrote on X. “We catch criminals when state and federal agencies share information. Joint investigations work, and securing justice depends on it.”
Within hours, FBI Director Kash Patel fired back. “Come again?” Patel wrote on X. “This FBI and DOJ with our DHS partners drafted and executed every search warrant today. But go ahead and take credit for our work while we smoke out the fraud plaguing Minnesota under your governorship.”
Minnesota officials confirmed the raids were conducted in collaboration with the federal government, involving both the Department of Children, Youth and Families and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
“Today’s law enforcement actions are a result of state, county and federal agencies working together to root out fraud and hold bad actors accountable,” DCYF said in a statement. “Each plays a role in protecting taxpayer dollars and we’re seeing the strength of that collaborative working relationship in action.”
The BCA said 23 of its financial crimes and fraud agents partnered with federal law enforcement to execute 14 of the search warrants. For further details on the active investigations, the agency directed inquiries to the FBI.
Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office added a statement that answered some questions while raising others. His Medicaid Fraud Control Unit assisted with raids at only five of the sites, all of them facilities claiming to provide Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention services billed through Medicaid.
“MFCU shares original criminal and civil jurisdiction for Medicaid fraud with federal law enforcement,” the statement read. “MFCU did not participate in the execution of search warrants at any other sites today because those sites do not involve Medicaid funding.”
That disclosure raises a significant question: if only five of the warrants involved Medicaid fraud, what were the legal basis and purpose behind the remaining raids? The FBI has not said.
“Out of respect to ongoing criminal investigations, the FBI cannot comment aside from the statement we issued yesterday,” the agency said. “When we have additional information to release, we will let you know.”
For Adan and others in the affected communities, the lack of transparency is its own concern, regardless of what investigators ultimately find.
“If I had their ear, something that I would say to the FBI is to carry out your work with precision, transparency and care for the communities who will feel the impact of these actions, even when they are not the subjects of this investigation,” Adan said.
Izzy Canizares is a freelance journalist and contributing journalist for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.