Unfortunately, our system of trust but verify no longer works

“The level of fraud in these programs is staggering. Unfortunately, our system of trust but verify no longer works,” Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said regarding fraud in state programs.

Operation Twin Shield

Federal authorities announced today they have completed Operation Twin Shield, the first wave of a new crackdown on immigration fraud in Minnesota.

In a press briefing, Director Joseph B. Edlow of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said the immigration enforcement effort investigated more than 1,000 cases and its findings “should shock all of America.”

Operation Twin Shield began on Sept. 19 and involved federal authorities conducting site visits across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. The operation was coordinated by USCIS and the FBI.

“Our officers encountered blatant marriage fraud, visa overstays, people claiming to work at businesses that can’t be found, forged documents, abuse of the H1-B visa system, abuse of the F-1 visas, and many other discrepancies,” said Edlow.

According to Edlow, authorities found indications of fraud, noncompliance, or public safety concerns in 275 cases.

...“As we work to undo the neglect of the Biden Administration, we will continue to launch operations like this across the country,” said Edlow. “Operation Twin Shield was a major enforcement operation and we will be bringing many more efforts like this to cities across the country.”

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“Minnesota is drowning in fraud”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota has indicted eight individuals for their alleged role in defrauding the state’s Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program. In a press briefing, Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said most of the $100 million HSS program was fraud.

In August, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) shut down HSS, a housing assistance program funded by Medicaid but operated by DHS. State leaders said HSS was shut down due to widespread fraud within the program.

Today, Thompson confirmed HSS is “riddled with fraud” as he announced eight individuals have been indicted for allegedly defrauding the program. Thompson told the press, “I think of the eight, I don’t know for sure, but I think six of the eight are of East African descent.”

...The U.S. Attorney said HSS was started in 2020 and initially cost roughly $2.6 million per year before program costs “exploded” to more than $100 million annually. Thompson later said most of the program was comprised of fraud, “as far as I could tell.”

In short, the program allowed businesses to bill Medicaid in exchange for providing services that were supposed to help “people with disabilities, including mental illness and substance use disorder, and seniors find and keep housing.”

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