JD Vance said welfare fraud tied to illegal aliens and organized schemes has become a nationwide problem, arguing that weak vetting and abuse of taxpayer-funded programs are harming American families and workers.

Vance cited statistics he said show a disproportionate reliance on welfare benefits and said the numbers alone indicate systemic failure.

“If you look at the amount of fraud in the welfare system, according to the statistics, I've seen, 85% of Somalis, Somalians, who are in the United States, legal and illegal, are collecting some form of welfare benefits,” Vance said.

Vance said the figure points to a deeper issue with government oversight and eligibility standards, even beyond criminal fraud.

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“So that's not to disparage the other 15% but we need 85% of a population that is collecting welfare that suggests that we have really done something wrong with regards to vetting, and that's the fundamental issue,” he said.

He added that even in the absence of proven fraud, the scale of dependency is unacceptable.

“Even if there's no fraud, 85% collecting welfare is way too many damn people collecting welfare getting rich off the American taxpayer, while a lot of Americans struggle. That's unacceptable,” Vance said.

Vance said recent cases in Minneapolis are not isolated incidents, but part of a broader pattern that he believes extends well beyond Minnesota.

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“What's going on in Minneapolis, I think, is actually representative of a broader fraud scheme that we're going to see all over the country,” he said.

He specifically pointed to California and other states as areas where similar abuse is likely occurring.

“We're going to see it in California. We're going to see it in other places too, where people get rich from the American taxpayer,” Vance said.

Vance highlighted daycare fraud as a key example, arguing that funds intended to help American families are being diverted through fraudulent schemes.

“The Somalian fraud, for example, daycare fraud. You've got Americans, we've got programs set up to make it easier for Americans to get their kids in daycare so they can have proper childcare,” he said.

He said the misuse of those funds amounts to multiple layers of theft.

“You take that money and you siphon it off to Somalian fraudsters. That's a double theft,” Vance said.

Vance explained that the consequences fall directly on working families and taxpayers.

“Number one, that means a lot of American families can't afford their child care. Number two, that means a lot of American taxpayers are being fleeced. It's totally unacceptable,” he said.

Vance said federal authorities are preparing to take action and suggested announcements are imminent.

“I believe, Jesse, we're going to have some very big announcements on this stuff in the next couple of days,” he said.

While declining to preempt official statements, Vance said investigators believe the fraud extends nationwide.

“I don't want to get ahead of the President on anything, but we believe that there is a nationwide fraud ring that's rooted in Americans, or, excuse me, rooted in illegal aliens and others taking advantage of the American welfare system,” Vance said.

He concluded by warning that prosecutions will follow.

“We're going to get to the root of it, and anybody who's involved is going to get prosecuted,” Vance said.

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