As I take my Walk Across America, a journey that involves a million steps towards restoring achievement and the American Dream, I can’t help but think about the troubling news from Minnesota. There’s an ongoing controversy regarding serious allegations and investigations into significant fraud within social welfare programs, especially impacting Minnesota’s substantial Somali-American community.
You’ve probably heard about the staggering claims of more than $1 billion allegedly defrauded from hardworking American taxpayers, which has been funneled into, well, questionable child care centers. This doesn’t stop at child care; similar issues arise in autism treatment, housing initiatives, and Medicaid.
Recently, a video that circulated online sparked a lot of anger in me, reinforcing the importance of my walk. In it, a young Somali-American woman confidently states that her community is “successful” in America. However, it’s troubling to see that this success doesn’t stem from entrepreneurship or innovation but from effectively gaming the welfare system.
This woman mentioned that nearly 89 percent of Somali immigrant households with children in Minnesota rely on some type of welfare. Shockingly, after over a decade in the U.S., the rate is still high at about 86%. To compare, only 21% of Indigenous-headed households receive any welfare assistance. In Minnesota, while 27% of Somali households access cash welfare, just 6% of Native American ones do—a disparity that’s hard to ignore. Food stamp use shows a similar trend, with 54% of Somali households relying on them, versus 7% of Native American households. For Medicaid, the numbers are again stark: 73% for Somali households against 18% for Native American ones.
I can’t call this success. This seems more like exploitation—a form of robbery. It’s troubling to see such a deliberate dependence created in communities.
As a pastor who’s worked hard to break the cycles of poverty and violence in Chicago through Project HOOD, I understand addiction well. It can trap individuals, robbing them of dignity and dreams, weakening entire communities. It’s disheartening to see pride taken in this reliance. How can one frame it as “success”? It just doesn’t sit right; it feels…well, wrong. It stands contrary to the values we hold dear.
I’ve also found a semblance of hope amid these issues. On my walk, I’ve met immigrants from various backgrounds—Latinos, Asians, Africans—who, with little more than faith and determination, have forged lives here. They’ve started businesses, nurtured families, and enriched their communities. They embody the essence of the American promise: hard work and faith lead to opportunity.
It’s this hope that sustains me on this journey. True prosperity in America comes from rewarding effort and responsibility, not merely rights. Policies that cluster refugees, hinder assimilation, or foster dependence do a disservice to everyone involved and burden diligent taxpayers.
As my journey continues towards the West Coast, I am constantly praying for the value of all immigrants and native-born citizens alike, and for the revival of the American Dream. We need to equip people with skills, build families, and nurture faith. Let’s turn away from the victim mentality that holds us back and leverage the chances to uplift each other.
However, first, we need to hold accountable those who’ve exploited American worker funds without regard. Their actions should serve as a warning. This accountability is crucial if we genuinely wish to restore and enhance the American Dream.
May our steps be blessed, and may the United States of America thrive.
