Nick Shirley's Presence Heighten Harassment Towards San Diego Child Care Providers
Child care providers in San Diego, particularly those from the Somali-American community, have reported a sharp increase in harassment following the arrival of controversial YouTuber Nick Shirley, who has been filming local facilities as part of an investigation into alleged fraud. Shirley's presence, alongside local activist Amy Reichert, has sparked fear among operators, with incidents including anonymous texts, uninvited visitors demanding proof of children's attendance and surveillance from parked vehicles.This comes amid broader national tensions over immigration and child care funding, exacerbated by Shirley's previous videos that prompted federal actions in Minnesota.Voice San Diego reported that providers like Safiyo Jama described receiving texts with eye emojis and a photoshopped image of Minneapolis Congresswoman Ilhan Omar in handcuffs, alongside strangers insisting on seeing children present. Jama emphasised the peril: 'We have kids here. It's dangerous. It's harassment,' and expressed fears of nighttime violence, adding, 'This is our home. It's scary. At night, somebody can take a gun and say, "Okay, we're doing this."'
Shirley's Controversial FootprintNick Shirley, a 23-year-old MAGA-aligned videographer, gained notoriety with a December 2025 video alleging widespread fraud in Minneapolis child care centres, claiming over $100 million (roughly £73 million) in taxpayer funds were siphoned through 'ghost daycares' with high enrolments but no children. The video, which went viral, prompted an FBI investigation and the Trump administration's decision to freeze federal child care funding for Minnesota, California, and three other states—though a judge temporarily blocked this on 9 February 2026.It also led to a federal immigration surge in Minnesota, resulting in two citizen deaths during confrontations.Minnesota authorities, however, found no substantial evidence of fraud in the centres Shirley highlighted; nine of 11 visited were operating normally, with children present or expected. Despite this, the state initiated 100 additional probes, revealing oversight gaps but not validating Shirley's sweeping claims.Shirley's approach—filming facilities and demanding entry—has been criticised for inciting harassment and lacking proof of billing improprieties.
Activities in San DiegoIn early February 2026, Shirley teamed up with Amy Reichert, a San Diego private investigator and activist, to visit Somali-run day care centres in the City Heights neighbourhood. Reichert, who posted about their two-day excursion on X on 30 January, cited state inspection reports showing discrepancies between enrolment numbers and children observed during visits.She described finding 'ghost daycare' centres with high enrolments but empty premises, though she clarified: 'I know nothing about billing practices,' and insisted she was not targeting ethnic groups, reviewing records alphabetically.Reichert has teased a forthcoming video suggesting fraud in California surpasses Minnesota's, telling FOX News: 'Minnesota is really just the tip of the iceberg. The massive fraud is happening right here in California.' No concrete evidence of fraud has emerged from their efforts; proving it requires demonstrating billing for unprovided services, which neither has shown. Shirley did not respond to requests for comment.Community Impact and Broader ConcernsThe visits have created a 'chill' over the Somali-American community, with providers fearing attrition as families withdraw children amid safety concerns. Kim McDougall of the YMCA of San Diego County explained to Union-Tribune that empty facilities are common due to flexible schedules, night shifts, or partial operations.While isolated fraud cases exist—such as a San Diego centre's president sentenced to 27 months for a $3.7 million (£2.7 million) kickback scheme—these do not substantiate widespread issues.This controversy coincides with a proposed San Diego ballot measure for a half-cent sales tax to fund child care, where unproven claims could erode support. As the video looms, providers call for protection, highlighting the dangers of vigilante-style investigations in vulnerable communities.
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