President Donald Trump has recently announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali immigrants in Minnesota. Coinciding with this, it has come to light that Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has ties to individuals convicted in a significant fraud case involving $250 million. The Department of Justice (DOJ) released a statement detailing the convictions of the Safari Restaurant co-owner and a former Minneapolis mayoral aide in January.
According to the DOJ press release, from April 2020 to January 2022, a well-orchestrated scheme was set in motion to exploit a federal child nutrition program. This resulted in the laundering of millions of dollars meant for reimbursing costs associated with providing meals to children. The DOJ further explained that these illegal actions took place under the guise of the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to regulatory changes intended to help underserved children receive proper nutrition.
Court documents revealed that Abdulkadir Nur Salah, co-owner and operator of Safari Restaurant, received over $16 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. Additionally, Abdi Nur Salah, who registered the non-profit entity Stigma-Free International, was implicated in the execution of the fraud across multiple sites in Minnesota. He also served as a Senior Policy Aide to the Mayor of Minneapolis.
Intriguingly, during her last congressional campaign, Rep. Omar had events at the Safari Restaurant, which also contributed to her campaign funds. This connection has sparked speculation about her awareness of the fraudulent activities. Rep. Omar was featured in a video praising the Safari Restaurant for its role in feeding children, where she mentioned the Meals Act, legislation aimed at supporting children with food insecurity during the pandemic.
The Safari Restaurant has since come under intense federal investigation for misusing $250 million in child nutrition funds to create fake meal reports and fictitious businesses within the Somali community of Minnesota. The revelations have emerged just as President Trump made controversial remarks about the Somali community, asserting that the United States would be better off without them and criticizing their homeland.
The links between Rep. Omar and the Safari Restaurant have raised questions about political ethics and the oversight of campaign donations. The case presents a complex scenario where community support and political engagement are overshadowed by the misuse of charitable intentions and funds.
