Tim Walz opened Minnesota's door to Somali immigrants as gangs became more prevalent

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who was recently named as a VP candidate for Kamala Harris, asked for more refugee settlement in Minnesota even as Somali gangs became more prevalent.

"Minnesota has always been a welcoming place for new immigrants, and we have no problem with that, but back in 2008 [through] 2012 to the beginning of Walz's administration, the refugee population continued to grow and grow and grow," retired Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, a 38-year law enforcement professional and Minneapolis native, told Fox News Digital. "And it went unchecked." "Ninety-five-plus percent of the Somali population are law-abiding, good people. … They want to come here to raise their families, start their jobs. That's all good, but the other 5% continue to cause mischief and engage in violent crime." "What he promised as a moderate Democrat from southern Minnesota has changed dramatically, and he continues to move farther and farther left." Audrey Conklin is a digital reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business. Email tips to audrey.conklin@fox.com or on Twitter at @audpants.

Stanek, who retired in 2019, testified about Somali gangs before Congress in 2012, saying they are unique compared to "traditional" American gangs because they don't deal in narcotics as much as other organized criminal groups.