Twelve Foreign Nationals Arrested in San Diego Ghost Daycare Fraud Scheme
Twelve foreign nationals were arrested in San Diego County last week for running a massive fraud scheme that stole nearly ten million dollars from American taxpayers through fake daycare centers, according to federal officials. None of the twelve arrested are American citizens.
The group, six men and six women, operated a network of so-called “ghost daycares” that billed the government for caring for children who never existed. Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations, working with the IRS and other law enforcement partners, executed criminal search warrants across the county after a months-long investigation.
🚨 IT'S OFFICIAL: 12 MIDDLE EASTERN MIGRANTS were arrested by HSI for running fraudulent ghost daycares in San Diego CA, and ALL of them have foreign names
$10 million stolen.
ALL 12 OF THEM. Not one is an American 😡
Per Fox, the arrests happened late last week and federal… pic.twitter.com/fNT9PzHYpI
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 16, 2026
Surveillance footage told the whole story. Investigators watched the facilities for days and saw no children going in or out. In many cases, no licensed providers were present during the hours that were billed. The suspects allegedly fabricated childcare attendance forms to collect federal funds year after year.
Each defendant faces accusations of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Four of them reportedly raked in more than one million dollars each. At least three used the stolen money to buy homes in the area, according to investigators. The total theft is estimated at ten million dollars.
The names and countries of origin of the twelve arrested are: Fosiya Mohamoud, Somalia; Abdulrahman Alawad, Syria; Zetun Abdi, Somalia; Ikramullah Mohmmand, Afghanistan; Khetam Haouash, Syria; Khatera Hashimi, Afghanistan; Mariam Khamis, Sudan; Mohamad Alawad, Syria; Mazin Alawad, Syria; Turkiya Alawad, Syria; Zaryab Daudzai, Afghanistan; and Cezar Yaqoob, Iraq.
This is who Democrats prioritize over American citizens, critics say.
The Biden administration’s open-border policies and lax oversight of public assistance programs created a perfect environment for this kind of fraud. The current administration, led by President Trump, has made cracking down on waste and abuse a top priority, and this bust is proof that the strategy is working.
Independent journalists had previously exposed similar schemes in the San Diego area earlier this year. Their reporting prompted this investigation. Citizen journalists are doing a massive service for the republic, and the Trump administration is succeeding in the all-out war on fraud.
The defendants now face federal charges tied to the theft of taxpayer resources. Authorities continue to review the full scope of the losses, and additional assets may be seized. If there is any justice, each and every one of them will be deported after serving their sentences.
This story is a reminder that the American taxpayer is under constant assault by those who exploit our generosity. The mainstream media will downplay the fact that all twelve of these fraudsters are foreign nationals. But the facts are clear: our system was abused, and the people who did it are not our own.
The good news is that the new administration is actually doing something about it. Arrests are happening. Assets are being seized. And the message is being sent: if you come to this country and steal from the American people, you will be caught.