WASHINGTON — Congressman Brad Finstad jumped sideways into the fray about President Trump’s pending order to deport Somali refugees who have settled in Minnesota. Finstad joined three fellow Republicans in the Minnesota a delegation, all Trump loyalists, to call on Trump’s new federal attorney for the state, Daniel Rosen, to investigate whether Minnesota’s Somali community has been “sending millions” back to Somalia to finance global terrorism. Their letter seems sourced on undocumented assertions from right-wing conspiratorialists who claim $1 billon has been sent by Minnesota Somalis to support terrorism. It appears that Trump also has leaned on the same sources in ordering that Somali refugees in Mjnnesota ro be deportd. In their call for a federal investigation, Finstad and fellow Trump loyalists in the Minnesota congressional delegation said:
“It is bad enough that these individuals are defrauding our state, taking services and funds away from children and the most vulnerable, but now there is a good reason to believe that Minnesota taxpayer dollars are going straight into terrorists’ hands. These new allegations present not only a serious betrayal of taxpayer trust, but also a grave threat to our national security.”
Their point conflates Somali wrong-doers, who are being prosecuted, with Somalis in general — each and every one. The flaw is in logic: First is an erroneous premise. Not all Somalis are on the public dole. Second: If so, how is it that they could squeeze dollars from subsistence allowances to send to millions of dollars — $1 billion, as the Finstad group asserts — to finance terrorism half a world away. Third: Unmentioned is that some Somalis in the food business are among bad layers already being prosecuted for schemes involving government moneys during the CoVid emergency and are in jail or headed there.
Minnesota Trump cabal
Four Republicans, all Trump loyalists, signed the letter to the U.S. attorney:
> Tom Emmer, R-MN6 (north suburbs).
> Brad Finstad, R-Mn1 (south).
> Michelle Fischbach, R-Mn7 (rural west).
> Pete Stauber, R-Mn8 (Iron Range).
Breitbart News and other right-wing media outlets posted the letter to perpetuate the anti-immigrant info loop where it started.
Refugee status
Federal law allows refugees into the United States under “temporary protected status” if they cannot return safely to theur home country or if the home country is unable to handle their return adequately Currently under this protective status: Refugees from El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Lebanon, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela,Yemen.