At a Glance
- Conservative influencers are visiting Somali-run daycare centers in at least 8 states, filming staff and claiming fraud
- The campaign started after a viral video by Nick Shirley received 135 million views on X
- Federal payments to Minnesota daycares have been frozen following the allegations
- Why it matters: The movement has sparked harassment claims and a national debate over targeting immigrant communities
A viral video claiming daycare fraud in Minnesota has ignited a coast-to-coast campaign where conservative influencers film themselves confronting Somali-run childcare centers. The movement has reached eight states and drawn millions of views online.
The Viral Spark
Nick Shirley’s December 26 video, which has been viewed 135 million times on X, shows Minnesota daycare facilities he claims were closed while still receiving government funds. The video received praise from Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk, despite not providing conclusive evidence of fraud.
The campaign has since spread to:
- Ohio
- Washington state
- Idaho
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
Cam Higby, who visited four Somali-run centers in Washington, acknowledged:
> “It could very well be that the day cares themselves are acting within the law.”
The Investigation Method
Content creators are comparing two types of records:
- Long-term subsidy payments to daycare centers
- Single-day enrollment snapshots taken during the slow holiday period
This comparison can be misleading since it pits years of funding against one-day attendance.
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown stated:
> “Showing up on someone’s porch, threatening, or harassing them isn’t an investigation. Neither is filming minors who may be in the home.”
Government Response
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has frozen all federal child care payments to Minnesota following the viral allegations.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson condemned the activity, stating Somali providers have experienced “targeted harassment” from the “surveillance campaign promoted by extremist influencers.”
In Ohio, over 40 Republican lawmakers have called for increased audits and unannounced inspections of daycare centers in Columbus, which has the second-largest Somali population in the U.S.
Community Impact
Many daycare operators of Somali descent, who have not been charged with crimes, report feeling targeted. The campaign appears to focus almost exclusively on Somali-run facilities, leading to accusations of racial profiling.
Edward Ahmed Mitchell of the Council on American-Islamic Relations stated:
> “There are very obviously fascists and other bigots who want to turn this controversy in Minnesota into a nationwide campaign to harass Somali-Americans.”
Key Takeaways
- A Minnesota daycare fraud investigation that led to dozens of convictions has been expanded into a nationwide campaign by conservative influencers
- The movement relies on amateur investigations that often lack context and conclusive evidence
- Federal payments to Minnesota daycares have been suspended pending review
- Somali-American communities across eight states report feeling targeted and harassed
- The campaign has sparked a national debate about the line between investigation and harassment
The controversy highlights how viral social media content can rapidly transform local investigations into nationwide movements with significant community impact.
