Armenian-American Advancement Network (AAAN) Condemns Trump Administration Actions Targeting Armenian-Americans and Calls on Policymakers to Stop Racially and Ethnically-Targeted Federal Investigations
Feb 4, 2026
Contact: info@armenianactionnetwork.org
Armenian-American Advancement Network strongly condemns the Trump administration’s racially and ethnically targeted investigations of Armenian-Americans in California and statements made by Dr. Oz in his official capacity as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. From the targeting of Somalis in Minnesota to the targeting of Armenians in California, these attacks represent disturbing patterns and must end now. We stand in solidarity with immigrant communities facing these grave injustices.
On January 27, 2026, in a video posted on X to an official federal account Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Dr. Oz, a longtime Armenian Genocide denier with a documented history of anti-Armenian anuimus, singled out Armenian-language signage, distorted its meaning, and implied that Armenian identity, language, and community presence are inherently linked to organized crime and healthcare fraud. Standing in front of a building that includes an Armenian bakery, Oz alleges that roughly $3.5 billion in hospice and home care fraud has taken place in Los Angeles and that “quite a bit of it” was run by Armenians, some with connections to “Armenian mafia.” As the camera pans to the bakery, Oz then describes the Armenian script on the businesses’ signs, stating, “you notice the lettering and language behind me is of that dialect.” The video also shows blurred faces of individuals standing on a storefront balcony with Armenian writing, insinuating their involvement in fraudulent conduct. Oz publicly alleges that members of the city’s Armenian-American community are responsible for widespread healthcare fraud and announced targeted federal investigations aimed specifically at Armenian communities in California.
The rhetoric and federal actions announced on January 26 and January 27 are clearly discriminatory. They criminalize ethnicity, background, and language, echoing tactics long used by supremacist ideologies and discriminatory systems to marginalize and oppress communities. Such actions are unacceptable and violate the U.S. Constitution, civil rights law, and due process. When senior federal officials publicly portray a whole ethnic community as suspect, it spreads hate and bias, discourages engagement with public agencies and programs, and creates real-world consequences for families and businesses. The reported 30% decline in sales at the Armenian-owned bakery shown in the video is a clear example of the immediate impact of these actions.
We welcome and commend Governor Gavin Newsom’s civil rights complaint seeking an investigation into the federal government’s recent actions targeting Armenians in California. The Governor’s action sends a clear message that California will not tolerate the use of federal power to scapegoat communities based on who they are, what language they speak, or where they come from.
This episode is not isolated. It reflects a broader pattern by this administration of weaponizing federal agencies against marginalized communities, especially immigrant and refugee communities, from ICE’s raids and deportations to the misuse of fraud investigations to the stripping of diversity, equity and inclusion funding across the country. Civil rights protections exist precisely to stop this kind of abuse of authority and discrimination.
We join our partners in calling for immediate action:
An immediate end to the racially and ethnically targeted federal investigations into Armenian-Americans in California
Independent review of these incidents and meaningful engagement with impacted communities to repair harm, restore trust, and ensure that anti-fraud efforts do not endanger people
A full retraction and correction of rhetoric linking alleged fraud to Armenian identity, language, or culture, and a public commitment that investigations will be evidence-based and non-discriminatory
Binding safeguards to ensure civil rights-compliant enforcement and to prevent ethnic and racial profiling, and language-based targeting
Civil rights are not optional, and federal agencies must serve the people of the United States. While we condemn fraud, fraud is not Armenian and exists in every community. This is clearly a targeted attack meant to stoke fear, confusion and harm in our community. We will stand together and we will not be divided. As a community founded and comprised of immigrants and refugees, we will continue to fight for our rights and the rights of all people in this country.
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