A Minneapolis daycare facility embroiled in a sprawling fraud scandal has fiercely defended its operations after being ridiculed for a misspelt sign and accused of being a 'ghost town' despite receiving millions in state funding.
'Quality Learing' Centre Under Fire
The Quality 'Learing' Center was thrust into the national spotlight last week after independent journalist Nick Shirley shared footage of the facility appearing completely devoid of children. This was despite the centre reportedly pocketing $1.9 million from Minnesota's Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) in 2023 alone, bringing its total funding to around $4 million.
Eagle-eyed critics quickly noted the sign above the door misspelt the word 'learning'. The video sparked immediate outrage among lawmakers and allegations that state authorities had allowed what some called the 'largest fraud in US history' to go unchecked.
Children 'Trucked In' and a Spirited Defence
On Monday, the scene shifted dramatically. Staff were observed 'trucking in' dozens of children—as many as 20 young kids and toddlers—despite local residents claiming they believed the facility was 'permanently closed' because they never witnessed the usual drop-offs.
'We've never seen kids go in there until today. That parking lot is empty all the time,' one nearby resident told the New York Post.
Ibrahim Ali, the son of the facility's owner, hit back at the criticism. He argued that when Shirley filmed the deserted facility, it had simply not yet opened for its stated hours of 2pm to 10pm, Monday to Thursday. 'Do you go to a coffee shop at 11 p.m. and say, 'Hey, they're not working?'' Ali retorted, claiming there were 16 children inside on Monday.
Regarding the now-infamous sign, Ali attempted to shift blame, stating the owners had hired a graphic designer who made a typo. 'He did it incorrectly. I guess they didn't think it was a big issue,' the 26-year-old said, adding, 'That's gonna be fixed.'
FBI Warns of 'Very Large Iceberg' as ICE Agents Descend
The fallout from the footage has been swift and severe. In response to the growing scandal, ICE agents descended on Minnesota this week, arriving at the nearby ABC Learning Center to probe its books. The director confirmed ICE demanded two months of attendance records for thorough checking.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated the bureau has long been aware of fraud allegations in the state's childcare system. 'The FBI believes this is just the tip of a very large iceberg,' Patel wrote. He emphasised that the FBI is actively working to 'dismantle large-scale fraud schemes' exploiting federal programs.
'Fraud that steals from taxpayers and robs vulnerable children will remain a top FBI priority in Minnesota and nationwide,' Patel asserted, adding that many cases are being referred to immigration officials for potential denaturalisation and deportation proceedings.
Governor Tim Walz claimed on Sunday he was taking strong action against the alleged rampant fraud. With the FBI investigation very much ongoing, the scandal surrounding Minnesota's childcare funding continues to deepen, promising further revelations and repercussions.
