In recent days, two incidents involving members of Minnesota’s Somali community have gone viral on social media, drawing national attention to ongoing allegations of fraud in taxpayer-funded programs. These events unfold against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny following a video by independent YouTuber Nick Shirley, which accused several Somali-run daycares of misusing millions in public funds. The video, posted on December 26, 2025, claimed to expose $110 million in fraud across 10 facilities, sparking federal investigations, a funding freeze by the Trump administration, and reports of harassment.
The first incident occurred during a press conference on December 30, 2025, organized by community leaders and parents to address the fallout from Shirley’s video and the subsequent halt in federal childcare funding. A Somali-American woman, identified as Carly Gatiza Watoon (or Carly Pachiza in some reports), a Minnesota mother, took the podium to read from a prepared script. She stated, “I understand fraud is bad,” before appearing to falter dramatically. Video footage shows her pausing, looking around in apparent discomfort, and then abruptly concluding her remarks with “It’s okay” before leaving the stage. Online commentators dubbed this a “glitch,” suggesting it revealed unease with condemning fraud amid accusations leveled at Somali-operated programs. Reactions on platforms like X amplified the clip, with users speculating that the woman’s reaction stemmed from cultural or communal pressures, given Minnesota’s history of fraud scandals involving Somali immigrants, such as the 2022 Feeding Our Future case where 78 people, many Somali-Americans, were charged with defrauding meal programs. Critics, including former President Donald Trump, have seized on such moments to criticize Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Democratic policies for lax oversight.
BREAKING: Manager at Minnesota childcare center reports break-in and missing “important documentation” but Minneapolis police say nothing was stolen.
Initial reports from management at a Minneapolis childcare center suggested that sensitive documents including payroll and… pic.twitter.com/s9v8kHWnTz
— I Meme Therefore I Am
(@ImMeme0) December 31, 2025
ABC Learning Center in Minnesota says they’re victims in the Somali fraud.
They defend not opening the door for Nick Shirley by saying they were afraid.
If they’re a real business they have nothing to fear.
Be transparent or don’t take government money.pic.twitter.com/BOTCRbNR5K
— Paul A. Szypula
The second event involves Nasrulah Mohamed, manager of the Nokomis Daycare Center in Minneapolis, a Somali-run facility featured in Shirley’s video. On December 31, 2025, Mohamed reported a break-in at the center, where intruders allegedly smashed through a brick wall in the early morning hours, vandalized offices, and stole critical documents, including child enrollment records, employee information, and financial papers. Security footage reportedly captured the suspects entering via the kitchen and forcing open doors. At a news conference the same day, Mohamed directly blamed Shirley’s viral video for inciting the vandalism, claiming it spread “fear and lies” about the Somali community, leading to harassing phone calls and threats. Minneapolis Police confirmed responding to the burglary report, though no arrests have been announced. This incident follows similar complaints from other Somali childcare providers, who report increased backlash since the video’s release, despite state officials stating that prior investigations found no evidence of fraud at the named centers.
These episodes highlight tensions in Minnesota, home to the largest Somali population in the U.S. Shirley’s video, which has garnered over 1 million views on YouTube and tens of millions on X, depicted empty daycares during operating hours and accused them of “ghost operations” to siphon funds. In response, the Department of Homeland Security launched door-to-door visits, and providers like Mohamed deny wrongdoing, emphasizing that Shirley’s footage was taken outside business hours. Community advocates warn of rising anti-Somali sentiment, while proponents of the investigations argue for accountability in public spending. As federal probes continue, these viral clips underscore the fraught intersection of immigration, welfare programs, and political rhetoric in America’s heartland.
SOURCES:
Somali child care providers report vandalism, threats after viral fraud video | MPR News
Somali-Run Minneapolis Daycare Vandalized, Documents Stolen | Fox News
Who is Nick Shirley, YouTuber alleging day care fraud : NPR
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