Minnesota’s Welfare Whopper '81% of Somali Refugee Households Cash In'

The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson · Dec 12, 2025 · 18m · transcript

1. Welfare Usage Among Somali Refugees

Based on Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) data analyzed by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS):

81% of Somali-headed households in Minnesota use one or more forms of welfare.

Breakdown:

27% on cash welfare

54% on food stamps

73% on Medicaid

For households with children, the numbers are even higher:

89% on welfare

86% on Medicaid

62% on food stamps

23% on cash welfare

Comparison: Native-born Minnesotans have much lower rates (e.g., 21% on any welfare, 6% on cash welfare).

Additional disparities:

66% of Somali refugees live in or…