Concerns Mount Over Nebraska's Immigration Detention Center Plans

Sat Sep 13 2025 09:21:04 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Amid rising skepticism from lawmakers and residents, the conversion of a state prison in McCook into an immigration detention center remains uncertain as no formal agreement has been signed.

Nebraska's plan to convert the McCook Work Ethic Camp into an immigration detention center lacks a formal agreement, raising concerns among lawmakers and local residents. Corrections officials claim the facility can house 200-300 detainees soon, but unanswered questions about costs and oversight persist. Governor Jim Pillen announced the initiative without local input, alarming city leaders who worry about the implications for their community. The work ethic camp is known for its rehabilitative programs, and local sentiments are mixed, reflecting both support for immigration reforms and concerns about overcrowding.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — No formal agreement has been signed to convert a remote state prison in Nebraska into an immigration detention center as lawmakers and nearby residents express growing skepticism. This follows over three weeks after Governor Jim Pillen announced the plan amid President Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Corrections officials indicate that the facility could accommodate hundreds of male detainees as early as next month, retrofitting classrooms and other areas at the McCook Work Ethic Camp for beds. However, many lawmakers report receiving few concrete details regarding costs, staffing implications, and oversight measures.

There were more unanswered questions than answered questions in terms of what they know, remarked state Sen. Wendy DeBoer.

Local officials from McCook were taken aback when Governor Pillen announced the facility would become a Midwest hub for immigration detainees mid-August. The site has been playfully labeled the 'Cornhusker Clink,' following similar naming trends for other detention centers.

City leaders feel sidelined in this decision, as expressed by Mike O’Dell, publisher of the McCook Gazette: “City leaders were given absolutely no choice in the matter.”

McCook, a locality known for supporting Trump in the 2024 election, has seen a growing mixed sentiment towards the facility's new purpose. While many residents are accustomed to low-level offenders engaging in community services—working on roads and in schools—there remains uncertainty about how detainees will be perceived and integrated.

The Work Ethic Camp, operational since 2001, currently hosts approximately 155 inmates. Despite being deemed a success for rehabilitating prisoners and reducing recidivism, some lawmakers voiced concern over the governor's swift decision to repurpose the facility amid Nebraska's existing prison overcrowding issues.

Lawmakers criticized Pillen for acting too hastily and emphasized that state law mandates legislative approval for such transitions. Concerns were raised over potential violations of building codes as the camp scales from designed capacity of 125 to 200-300 detainees.

In response to these concerns, state Senator Terrell McKinney held a public hearing to seek clarity from corrections officials and the governor's office about the facility's transition. Despite the absence of state officials, numerous residents attended, largely opposed to the establishment of a new ICE detention center.

Pillen asserts that state law enables this administrative choice, contending the Department of Correctional Services operates under his authority. However, the formal agreement needed for the transition remains unsigned amidst escalating concerns and logistical uncertainties.