Minneapolis Daycare Break-in Highlights Tensions Amid Fraud Allegations
In a troubling development that reflects growing tensions in Minneapolis, a Somali-run childcare center reported a break-in and vandalism, with critical documentation regarding employees and children missing. Nasrulah Mohamed, who manages Nokomis Day Care Center, shared that the facility was burglarized early Wednesday morning between 3 and 6 a.m. The incident included property damage, with a door broken and portions of walls gutted, as confirmed by the Minneapolis Police Department and shown in local news footage. Most concerning was the theft of important records related to both staff and the children under their care. Despite security cameras mounted on the building’s exterior, it remains unclear whether the perpetrators were caught on video.
This break-in occurs against the backdrop of intense scrutiny facing Somali-operated daycares in Minneapolis following allegations of massive fraud in childcare funding. The tension escalated significantly after independent journalist Nick Shirley posted a viral video last week showing visits to nearly a dozen daycare facilities while investigating potential fraud. The 42-minute video garnered millions of views and caught the attention of high-profile political figures, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Though Nokomis Day Care Center was not featured in Shirley’s video, Mohamed directly connected the break-in to the heightened attention, stating, “This is devastating news, and we don’t know why this is targeting our Somali community, as one video made by a specific individual made this all happen.”
The daycare manager expressed deep concern about the incident’s impact on their community, revealing that the center has received numerous threatening and hateful messages in recent days. “This is frightening and exhausting,” Mohamed told reporters, highlighting the emotional toll on staff who operate a facility that, according to Minnesota Department of Human Services records, maintains good standing and is licensed to care for up to 71 children of various ages. The center had only minor violations in October—related to menu nutritional requirements and teacher qualification documentation—both of which were promptly addressed according to state records. The targeting of a facility with relatively clean regulatory history raises questions about motivations behind the break-in.
The incident occurs as federal authorities intensify their focus on alleged widespread fraud in Minnesota’s childcare system, with estimates suggesting potentially up to $1 billion in fraudulent activity. Federal prosecutors have already indicted dozens of individuals in connection with these allegations. The Trump administration has launched its own investigation into the suspected fraud, and just this week, the Department of Health and Human Services took the significant step of freezing childcare payments to Minnesota unless the state can verify the legitimacy of these expenditures. With Minnesota receiving $185 million for such payments in 2025, the financial implications are substantial for the state’s childcare infrastructure.
The situation highlights complex intersections of immigration, community tensions, and financial oversight. The Somali community in Minneapolis, which has established numerous childcare centers to serve local families, now finds itself under intense scrutiny, with some community advocates suggesting they are being unfairly targeted or “scapegoated” in the broader fraud investigation. The break-in at Nokomis Day Care Center appears to represent a troubling escalation, moving from online scrutiny and political debate to physical violation of space and property. The theft of documentation rather than valuables suggests potential targeting of information, raising concerns about privacy violations for both employees and children’s families.
As investigations into both the break-in and the broader fraud allegations continue, the incident underscores the real-world consequences when heated political discourse focuses intensely on specific communities. For the families that depend on Nokomis and similar centers for childcare—a crucial service that enables parents to work and supports early childhood development—the uncertainties created by both the fraud allegations and now physical security concerns add another layer of stress to already challenging circumstances. The situation calls for careful investigation of legitimate fraud while ensuring that essential childcare services remain accessible and that innocent operators and the families they serve aren’t unfairly impacted by either hasty policy changes or community backlash fueled by incomplete information.
