During a congressional hearing on alleged fraud in Minnesota, the Indian American congressman warns of the dangers of collective blame.
At a tense congressional hearing on March 4, spotlighted by national concerns over alleged fraud in Minnesota, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., offered a forceful defense of Somali Americans, saying that such narratives risk stigmatizing an entire community for the actions of a small number of individuals.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, running-mate of Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race, and state Attorney General Keith Ellison testified before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday.
The hearing comes amid intense national scrutiny over alleged fraud in Minnesota social services programs, drawing attention from Republican members of Congress and conservative media, who argue that state officials have been lax in addressing misuse of federal funds.
Some allegations stem from cases involving Somali American-linked organizations and have been amplified by viral social media content and federal enforcement actions.
Prior to the hearing, the panel released a report alleging that the two Democratic leaders covered up fraud evidence.
During questioning of Ellison, Khanna stressed the broader, positive contributions of Somali Minnesotans and the dangers of equating alleged wrongdoing with an entire group.
READ: ‘Stand up to Epstein class’: Ro Khanna urges the US to take action (February 10, 2026)
“You know, when I was growing up as an Indian American, anytime someone who was of Indian origin did something wrong, every Indian American was concerned,” Khanna said in the hearing, underlining how immigrant and minority communities often feel collectively judged for individual actions. “And I don’t think people understand that, if you aren’t a minority, how that makes you feel.”
He noted that while there were reports that “80 or 90 people” of Somali descent were involved in alleged wrongdoing, the state is home to “100,000 Somali Americans at least in Minnesota” and that the entire community should not be painted with a broad brush.
Khanna underscored that it is not “factually true that Somali Minnesotans, or Somali Americans, commit more fraud than white Americans or Indian Americans, or other Americans.” He called the narrative “dangerous” and urged Ellison to speak to the Somali experience in Minnesota, especially given how immigrant communities often bear the burden of collective blame.
Ellison responded by highlighting the positive contributions of the Somali community to Minnesota’s economy and civic life. “The reality is the Somali community Minnesota has brought great things to our state,” Ellison said. “They have opened businesses. They’ve gotten professional degrees. They are great neighbors, who volunteer and help their neighbors. They have been a benefit to our state.”
He added that focusing on a few bad actors overlooks the fact that misconduct can occur in any ethnic or demographic group.