dec 5 2025 Gov.
Tim Walz (D-MN) is promoting a new government assistance program open to illegal immigrants in
Minnesota, as he faces scrutiny for allegedly allowing statewide welfare
fraud, reportedly committed primarily by Somali immigrants, to happen on his watch.
The
Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave Program, which Walz signed into law and is
publicly praising ahead of its start date on Jan. 1, will cover “undocumented workers,” according to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's
FAQ page.
Over a
12-week coverage period of one’s choosing, the PFML program provides payments to Minnesota residents who purportedly need time away from work for “serious health” reasons or to take care of a family member, whether an infant or an ill relative. If an individual qualifies for both medical and family leave, they can “double dip,” as the commerce chamber puts it, and take off a total of 20 weeks, or five-and-a-half months, within a single year. Claimants can also “top off” paid leave by using paid time off, sick days, and vacation hours in addition to their leave of absence, a mechanism known as “supplemental payment.”
Based on income level, program beneficiaries will
receive between 55% and 90% of their regular wages while on paid leave, with a maximum amount set at the state’s average weekly wage, currently $1,423 per week.
