Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was ridiculed on social media Thursday after he proposed providing small businesses “feeling the effects” of President Trump’s immigration crackdown with a $10 million “relief package.”
Walz’s proposal would provide forgivable loans ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 to Minnesota businesses that can “demonstrate substantial revenue loss during specified dates” tied to Operation Metro Surge, according to the Democratic governor’s office.
Critics of the plan quickly pointed out that the North Star State has been plagued with fraud scandals which President Trump claims have cost taxpayers more than $19 billion – and that Walz’s proposal would invite more theft.
“BREAKING: Tim Walz opens up a new avenue for fraud in Minnesota,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) wrote on X, in response to the proposal.
Republican state Sen. Michael Holmstrom said the plan was “an immediate NO from me.”
“MN taxpayers do not deserve to have more money stolen from them,” Holmstrom posted.
David Thul, a political activist in the state, proposed that the legislature tie how much Walz can dole out in loans to how much he takes back from scammers.
“How about a law that says the Walz admin can spend a dollar on these loans for every dollar they recoup from fraud investigations?” Thul argued.
Daren Cotter, a Minnesota-based tech entrepreneur, wondered if businesses that “closed voluntarily in protest” of Trump’s federal law enforcement surge would be able to request the forgivable loans.
Several people mocked Walz’s proposal with references to the state’s daycare fraud scandal; reports that an overseas terror group was benefiting from the ill-gotten welfare funds; and the luxury purchases linked to convicted fraudsters.
“Does that include learing centers?” Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) said of the loan scheme.
Republican strategist Matt Whitlock quipped, “Al Shabaab already shopping for some new white BMW’s back in Mogadishu.”
The loan proposal was floated the same day border czar Tom Homan declared Operation Metro Surge a success and announced plans to end the immigration enforcement crackdown in the state.
