Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem outlined what she described as widespread and unprecedented fraud uncovered in Minnesota during an on-air exchange with Fox News host Jesse Watters, pointing to criminal activity tied to individuals who entered the country illegally and then exploited taxpayer-funded assistance programs.

Watters opened the discussion by asking Noem about the situation as it unfolded.

“Out there on the ground. What have you found out so far?” Watters asked.

Noem responded by describing the scope of what authorities have identified in Minnesota, saying the findings have revealed extensive misuse of public funds intended for vulnerable populations.

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“Well, Jesse, the amount of fraud in Minnesota is unprecedented. It's incredible,” Noem said.

According to Noem, the response has included a surge of federal law enforcement personnel aimed at determining the full scale of the activity and holding those involved accountable.

She said authorities deployed additional officers in recent days to address the issue directly.

“What we found, and we did surge operations there. The last 48 hours, we've sent 2000 more ICE officers, HSI officers, individuals there to help get to the bottom of it,” Noem said.

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Noem stated that investigators found the alleged fraud was not limited to improper paperwork or administrative errors, but involved criminal conduct affecting American citizens.

She said individuals who entered the country illegally were identified as participants in schemes that targeted taxpayer-funded programs.

“But what we're finding is not only people who've come into this country illegally, but they've perpetuated crimes on people,” she said.

Noem added that the alleged crimes included theft of public funds that were intended to support Americans in need.

“Then they've stolen the American citizen's money, and they've put it in their own pockets, and then the pockets of other individuals that are here, businesses, individuals that bought luxury homes and took vacations,” she said.

She emphasized that the funds were used for personal enrichment rather than for their designated purposes.

“And they all did it using somebody else's money and money that should have been used to help people who really was supposed to benefit from these programs,” Noem said.

The governor specifically referenced Medicaid and developmental services as programs impacted by the alleged fraud.

She said the misuse of funds denied assistance to people who were intended beneficiaries under the law.

“Medicaid, individuals that were supposed to get help for developmental services,” Noem said, as she continued detailing the consequences of the alleged misconduct.

Noem also highlighted the impact on vulnerable populations, including those with disabilities.

“That were handicapped individuals, people who had autism, that needed services and they didn't get it,” she said.

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