Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison testified before a House committee Wednesday, defending their fraud-fighting efforts while blaming President Trump's immigration crackdown for hampering investigations. Republicans on the Oversight Committee accused the Democrats of stalling payments to government programs to protect political interests. Walz stated the immigration surge made federal cooperation on fraud probes significantly harder, claiming Minnesota was 'singled out for political retribution.' Ellison highlighted the impact, noting the surge of 3,000 federal agents since December and the resignation of lawyers in the U.S. Attorney's Office, leaving remaining staff 'drowning in immigration petitions' instead of prosecuting fraud.

The Trump administration cited fraud as justification for 'Operation Metro Surge.' Ellison asserted the operation harmed Minnesota's economy and dealt a 'devastating blow' to fraud enforcement, pointing to the resignation of attorneys and a contempt hearing over ICE property return delays. Walz emphasized his office had 'punched above its weight,' securing 300 Medicaid fraud convictions and recovering $80 million for taxpayers. Republicans, including Rep.

Comer, accused Walz of protecting the Somali American community involved in the $250 million 'Feeding Our Future' fraud scheme, demanding Ellison's resignation. The administration had threatened to halt $243 million in Minnesota Medicaid funding over fraud concerns, leading the state to sue to block the withholdings, warning of potential cuts to low-income health care. Walz countered Republicans were lying about his knowledge of the fraud, stating 'their ethnicity is not my concern.' The hearing also featured emotional testimony from Democrats highlighting the human cost of the enforcement actions, including deaths during detentions.