Opinion | With fraud, Minnesota needs accountability — not a scapegoat

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In our small towns and regional centers, Minnesotans have a long memory for two things: hard work and a fair shake. We also have a low tolerance for anyone who tries to cut corners at the taxpayer’s expense. That is why the recent headlines about multimillion-dollar fraud in state-funded programs have sparked such legitimate anger.

But as we demand accountability, we have to be careful not to fall into a trap that will ultimately hurt our own economic future. We cannot afford to let the actions of a few bad actors blind us to the vital role that thousands of honest, hardworking New Americans play in keeping our state running.

The ongoing investigations into child care and food-aid programs are serious matters of public trust. Federal prosecutors estimate significant losses, and the justice system is currently working to ensure those responsible face the consequences. To date, dozens of individuals have been charged or convicted in these high-profile cases.

However, we must remember that “fraud” is an individual choice, not a community trait. There are more than 80,000 Somali-Americans in Minnesota. The vast majority are naturalized U.S. citizens who are just as disgusted by these scandals as any other taxpayer. These are the people staffing our rural clinics, driving the trucks that move our goods, and paying millions in state and local taxes that fund our shared roads and schools. When we blanket an entire community with blame, we risk alienating the very workforce our aging rural towns need to survive.

If we allow a “scandal narrative” to define our neighbors, we play into a cycle of decline. While our neighbors in Iowa and the Dakotas struggle with shrinking populations and brain drain, Minnesota has remained an economic leader because we have been a destination for people who want to build a life.

If we drive these people away through collective suspicion, who fills those jobs? Who keeps the Main Street businesses open in towns where the local population is graying?

Justice means punishing the people who broke the law — period. It does not mean punishing the family next door working two jobs to put their kids through college. We can demand rigorous oversight of our state programs — something our leaders are currently working to fix — without turning our backs on the people who have helped Minnesota outpace every other state in our region.

Minnesota’s strength has always been our ability to stay grounded and look at the facts. The fact is that we need a growing workforce to remain a powerhouse. Let’s hold the fraudsters accountable, but let’s keep our doors open to the neighbors who are helping us build a future.