FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Kayla Blado 240-489-1803, kayla.blado@hailstonecommunications.com
January 4, 2026
San Diego, Cal. — The United Domestic Workers (UDW/AFSCME Local 3930), together with our allies across the labor movement, condemns the reckless and discriminatory targeting of Somali child care providers based on a single video produced by a known extremist provocateur. With no evidence of wrongdoing, the federal government has nonetheless used its power to intimidate, harass, and endanger workers who are simply doing their jobs and caring for our communities’ children.
“These so-called ‘investigations’ are nothing more than politically motivated harassment designed to terrorize providers and destabilize the families who depend on them,” said Johanna Hester, UDW Deputy Executive Director and Co-Chair of Child Care Providers United (CCPU). “This abuse of government authority undermines due process and puts lives and livelihoods at risk.”
UDW Executive Director Doug Moore added:
“We unequivocally condemn these false allegations and racially driven attacks. UDW stands firmly with child care providers, who are essential to our economy and to the well-being of millions of working families. We will not allow this administration to scapegoat immigrant and Muslim workers in pursuit of a hateful political agenda.
“The normalization for private citizens who are neither press or state investigators to trespass on private businesses demanding to see minors and record them without their consent is not only dangerous but puts our vulnerable children at risk and harm.
“At UDW, we take pride in our diversity. Our Somali members make our union stronger, and we will not allow hate or discrimination to divide us. Instead, we will come together and fight even harder to protect our communities.”
UDW will continue working with community partners, elected leaders, and allies to ensure the Somali community is protected and that all child care providers are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.
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UDW represents more than 220,000 dedicated home care and family child care providers across California. Our members are the backbone of care for seniors, children, people with disabilities, and working families—fighting for fair wages, better working conditions, and policies that strengthen our communities.