“Strong Safeguards, Fair Systems: A Practical Approach to Immigration and Accountability”

I was recently asked this question by a local Minnesotan

Hey Bill, thanks for outlining your policies—love the focus on unity and ethical governance. If elected, what’s your plan to address undocumented Somali immigration, the state’s refugee sanctuary policies, and the $1B+ taxpayer fraud in social/health services by some in the Somali community? What safeguards would you implement to prevent future scams?

Here is my response

Thanks for the thoughtful question — these are complex issues, and they deserve steady, practical solutions.

On undocumented Somali immigration and Minnesota’s broader approach to refugees, my focus would be on maintaining our long tradition of welcoming people while also strengthening the systems that support safety, fairness, and accountability. That means working responsibly with federal partners but keeping local resources focused on core public-safety priorities and community stability.

Regarding the past fraud cases in social and health services, those incidents exposed real gaps in oversight. My priority would be tightening financial controls, improving audits and monitoring, and ensuring agencies can share information quickly enough to spot problems early. Modernized verification systems and clear accountability measures are essential — not to single out any community, but to protect taxpayer dollars and preserve programs for the Minnesotans who rely on them.

I also believe part of the underlying vulnerability came from how the state handles identification. Minnesota’s choice to mail driver’s licenses and IDs, instead of issuing them in person on the same day, creates opportunities for waste and possible misuse. If states like Arkansas can provide same-day Real ID issuance, Minnesota should be able to do the same. In-person issuance would cut mailing costs, reduce the risk of mail-related fraud, and strengthen the integrity of the entire process.

Overall, the goal is to make our systems both welcoming and secure — with safeguards strong enough to prevent abuse while keeping our values intact.