Minnesota Lt. Gov. Critiques Laken Riley Act Amid Ongoing Fraud Investigations
Minnesota’s Lieutenant Governor, Peggy Flanagan, has publicly criticized the Laken Riley Act—a law that mandates the detention of certain undocumented immigrants who are charged with theft-related offenses. This criticism comes as the state grapples with a federal investigation into a significant fraud case involving Somali immigrants and taxpayer money. The law is named after a young woman tragically killed by an undocumented immigrant.
Flanagan shared her thoughts on X, stating, “The Laken Riley Act was the first step in giving President Trump permission to terrorize our communities.” She emphasized that the initial vote under the Trump administration was about this very act, which, according to her, stripped immigrants of their due process rights.
In her remarks, she pointed out that some Democrats supported the bill alongside Republicans. She specifically called out her opponent in the Senate race, Angie Craig, saying, “My opponent was one of them,” which was met with disapproval from the crowd. Flanagan also mentioned that Craig had voted for a resolution earlier that summer in support of ICE, prompting the audience to respond that they found it “disappointing.”
The Laken Riley Act was enacted in response to the murder of a 22-year-old nursing student by members of a gang involving undocumented immigrants. It mandates the detention of undocumented individuals arrested for theft-related offenses, and the law enjoyed bipartisan support when it passed through Congress.
“We have to tell the truth in this campaign,” Flanagan asserted. “Minnesotans deserve better, and our immigrant neighbors deserve better. We won’t abandon anyone for political gain. That’s how authoritarianism prevails.”
Flanagan has been outspoken against President Trump’s immigration policies, expressing a commitment to support immigrant and refugee communities in Minnesota. She has even mentioned her aim to push federal immigration agents out of the state and has donned traditional Muslim attire in a video to show solidarity with the Somali community. “We are with you… I will continue to stand with you,” she stated.
These comments arise as Flanagan’s administration faces mounting scrutiny due to a massive fraud scandal involving a Somali-run organization accused of misappropriating billions of dollars in taxpayer funds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 100 individuals, largely Somali immigrants, have been charged in Minnesota related to this alleged conspiracy, notably the “$250 million Feeding Our Future” case. Whistleblowers attempting to report misconduct reportedly faced threats and were silenced. Flanagan has been criticized for dismissing such concerns during a 2024 state convention, referring to whistleblowers in a derogatory manner, which left many in the audience taken aback.
