Carol Platt Liebau: No Longer "Minnesota Nice"

Everyone’s heard of “Minnesota nice” — state residents’ reputation for being polite, mild-mannered, and tolerant.

So it’s hard to believe Minnesota taxpayers have become a major funder of a terrorist group. But it’s true. A massive welfare-fraud scheme took millions meant for Minnesotans — and funneled the money to a Somalian branch of Al Qaeda.

Minnesota has seen the rapid growth of a Somali migrant community over the past three decades. Many send money home — in 2023 alone, transfers to Somalia totaled $1.7 billion dollars, more than Somalia’s national budget.

What’s more, Somali-based gangs in Minnesota have become a serious public-safety threat, deeply involved in violent crime and drug trafficking. In short, a state once known for being “nice” is grappling with some serious problems.

There’s a heavy cost when America encourages immigration but refuses to insist on assimilation.

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