Boston Mayor Credits Somalis For City’s ‘Every Achievement’

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu drew sharp attention on Monday after crediting the city’s Somali community with virtually all of Boston’s major accomplishments, remarks that came as Somali communities nationwide face heightened scrutiny over a massive fraud case in Minnesota.

Speaking at a public event, Wu said Boston’s progress across nearly every major metric could not be discussed without acknowledging the contributions of Somali residents.

“You cannot talk about any achievement that the city of Boston has had in safety, jobs, and economic development, in education, without talking about the Somali community that has lifted our city up,” Wu said. “We are proud and we are grateful for our Somali community and for our Somali American neighbors. Boston and the country are clear that hate has no place in our society.”

Wu went on to say that criticism or attacks directed at immigrant communities would only reinforce her administration’s commitment to expanding public services and working more closely with those communities.

“We will use every attack to actually strengthen and expand the services available, to empower and work alongside our community members who are already doing so much good in the world and setting the example for the rest of the country,” she added.

Wu’s remarks come as Somali Americans have been in the national spotlight following one of the largest fraud cases in U.S. history. Federal prosecutors in Minnesota have charged 92 defendants in a series of schemes involving public assistance programs, with 82 of the defendants identified as Somali Americans. Prosecutors allege that tens of millions — and potentially hundreds of millions — of dollars were stolen from federal nutrition programs, including the Child Nutrition Program, through nonprofits such as Feeding Our Future.

The scandal has sparked political fallout in Minnesota, where Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has faced criticism over his administration’s oversight of the programs. At a December press conference, Walz drew controversy after criticizing white men while responding to questions about accountability for the fraud. State officials have accused his administration of ignoring warnings and failing to enforce safeguards designed to prevent abuse.

The issue has also prompted action from President Donald Trump’s administration, which has increased immigration enforcement efforts in areas with high Somali populations, particularly in Minnesota. Walz condemned those efforts, accusing the administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of conducting a “PR stunt” and “indiscriminately targeting immigrants” in a December post on X.

Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota has accused Trump and his allies of using the fraud case to promote what she described as an anti-immigrant and bigoted agenda.

Wu’s sweeping praise of the Somali community has fueled debate online, with supporters applauding her defense of immigrants and critics arguing that her comments gloss over serious concerns about accountability and misuse of taxpayer funds. The remarks highlight the broader political divide over immigration, public spending, and how elected officials respond when criminal cases intersect with identity and community representation.

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