Somali-run child care providers in several U.S. states say they have been harassed and surveilled by strangers after a viral video by right-wing influencer Nick Shirley alleged widespread fraud in Minneapolis-area day cares—claims that inspectors later said were not supported by their follow-up visits. The intimidation has prompted some providers and advocates to bolster security and has helped fuel renewed political calls for increased oversight of subsidized child care.
Safiyo Jama, a Somali immigrant who operates a licensed family child care program from her home in San Diego, said she began receiving harassing calls and messages in late 2025 after online attention surged around allegations of fraud at Somali-run child care centers in Minnesota.
Jama told The Nation that a man posing as a prospective parent demanded to see children immediately, and later another man filmed her home from outside her fence. Jama said she responded by adding security measures such as a camera and signage, and by tightening internal protocols for staff. She said the harassment has left her fearful for her family’s safety.
The concerns described by Jama echo accounts reported by The Associated Press, which found that Somali-run child care centers in multiple states have become targets for activists and online influencers since Shirley posted a video in late December 2025 alleging Minneapolis-area Somali providers were running “fake” day cares to collect government subsidies. AP reported that the video’s central allegation—that providers were billing for children they were not caring for—was later contradicted by inspectors’ findings.
In California, conservative activist Amy Reichert has used social media to publicize addresses of child care centers she says are suspicious, according to The Nation. Shirley has publicly indicated he would turn his attention to California, and Somali providers in San Diego have reported being filmed or confronted, the United Domestic Workers union has said.
Doug Moore, executive director of United Domestic Workers, said in a statement cited by The Nation that internet vigilantes were “stalking and intimidating” providers at their homes and workplaces.
Samsam Khalif, who has run a home-based licensed child care program in California for about 20 years, told The Nation—and similarly told AP—that she recently noticed unfamiliar people with cameras outside her home and has since installed additional cameras and adopted new safety habits, including staying vigilant at night. Her son, Khalid Hassan, told The Nation he believes the harassment has been encouraged by political rhetoric targeting Somali immigrants.
In Ohio, The Nation reported that Genia Blount-Hendrix, an administrator at a child care center owned by a woman of Somali descent, said a couple came to the center and photographed the building. Blount-Hendrix said the center had recently undergone an unannounced licensing visit in late December that found no issues, and that the program has a waiting list.
At the same time, Ohio Republicans have introduced proposals that would expand state enforcement powers and increase monitoring of providers receiving public subsidies, including measures that would require in-room cameras accessible to the state, The Nation reported. The article cited federal technical assistance materials indicating the Child Care and Development Fund’s payment “error rate” is below 4%—a measure that includes underpayments as well as overpayments.
In Alabama, Lenice Emanuel of the Alabama Institute for Social Justice told The Nation that Black women who run day care centers have reported imposters posing as parents to gain entry and then take photos inside facilities, leading providers to adopt additional precautions such as alarms, cameras and rapid alert systems.
Beyond harassment concerns, child care advocates have warned that the sector remains financially strained after the expiration in 2023 of large-scale stabilization funds tied to the American Rescue Plan, and that uncertainty about future federal support can amplify the pressure on providers.
The controversy has also intersected with national politics. AP reported that President Donald Trump amplified the allegations and used dehumanizing language about Somali immigrants, and that his administration attempted to freeze certain child care funding streams affecting Minnesota and other Democratic-led states until a court order required the funding to continue, at least temporarily.
