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John Cornyn: “Our national debt has surpassed $38 trillion and continues…”

Featuring: John Cornyn, Republican | U.S. Senate, Texas

Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes

Published February 10, 2026 | Video Starts at 03:18

Let me say that again. 233 billion to 521 billion is lost every year due to fraud and improper payments of federal benefits and other public funds. Our national debt has surpassed $38 trillion and continues to climb. If the United States could recoup these hundreds of billions of dollars lost to fraud every year, we might actually have some hope of getting our fiscal situation on a sustainable trajectory. (03:18–03:25)

CLAIM

Asserts that the national debt has surpassed $38 trillion.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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John Cornyn

“The loss to the federal government, meaning the loss to American taxpayers, is estimated to be at $9 billion or more [due to child care…”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 00:27-00:36
“The Department of Justice has also issued more than 1,750 subpoenas, executed more than 130 search warrants, and conducted more than 1,000…”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 01:40-01:54
“The Government Accountability Office estimated that the Federal Government loses between 233 billion and 521 billion annually due to fraud…”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 02:49-03:04
“In 2023, the Federation of American Immigration Reform, or FAIR, estimated that Medicaid lost approximately $8 billion in funding annually…”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 04:12-04:28
“FAIR estimated that the illegal aliens have obtained more than $3 billion in earned income tax credits, with the average filer receiving…”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 04:29-04:39
“Over the last two years, $700 million in cash, largely tied to Somali couriers, has been flown out of the Minneapolis airport via suitcase…”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 04:40-04:53
“There are also credible allegations that the Minnesota government knew about the fraud as early as 2011.”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 00:45-00:52
“Governor Waltz and Mayor Fry not only were aware of the fraud as early as 2018 or 2019, but did nothing to stop it.”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 00:53-01:03
“To date, the U.S. department of justice has charged 98 defendants in the Minnesota fraud related cases, 85 of whom are of Somali descent.”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 01:15-01:31
“64 have been convicted [in the Minnesota fraud related cases].”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 01:16-01:31
“DHS officials say this cash transfer has been occurring for close to a decade, but the practice has increased in recent years.”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 04:54-05:03
“The Somali couriers are in fact legally declaring the cash they're taking out of the country.”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 05:38-05:44
“Later this week, I plan to introduce a bill to address this issue [of cash smuggling].”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 05:59-06:04
“This bill, called the Stop Somali Currency Airport Smuggling through Hawala's Cash Fraud act or Stop Somali Cash Fraud act, will strengthen…”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 06:03-06:21
“President Trump's team at the White House has uncovered numerous examples of illegal aliens arrested for crimes who have also been receiving…”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 07:09-07:18
“Democrats repeatedly assured Republicans that illegal aliens are already ineligible for Medicaid.”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 07:41-07:48
“According to one report, over $19 billion is lost to identity theft annually.”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 08:34-08:41
“We can begin by prioritizing thoroughness of security vetting rather than speed.”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 10:52-10:59
“We can invest in fraud prevention and detection mechanisms that will allow federal, state and local government agencies to quickly identify…”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 11:11-11:22
“We can also require agencies to require biometric identification and verify each alien's identity before they may be granted any federal…”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 11:22-11:38
“We can require automated and recurrent identification verification, random audits, and in person identity verification for all federal and…”
Cornyn Chairs Hearing on Immigration Fraud Nationwide in the Wake of Somali Crime Schemes | Uploaded February 10, 2026 | 11:39-11:53