Federal Immigration Detention Center Opens in McCook, Nebraska

Fri Nov 07 2025 01:46:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The transition of a Nebraska prison into a federal immigration detention center has begun, with plans for expansion amid concerns about overcrowding and legal challenges.

The McCook facility, previously a minimum-security prison for low-level offenders, has started accepting immigrant detainees, with plans for gradual capacity increases. State officials are facing legal challenges regarding the facility’s repurposing and concerns about its implications for the state's already strained prison system.

OMAHA, Neb. — A formerly minimum-security prison in McCook, located in southwestern Nebraska, has recently been refurbished to function as a federal immigration detention center. Governor Jim Pillen revealed that the facility began accepting detainees earlier this week, starting with approximately 50 to 60 individuals.

The governor, a member of the Republican party, stated that the facility's capacity is set to reach 200 detainees by Thanksgiving, with plans for further expansion underway. Work on a second phase aims to add an additional 100 beds for a total of 300, expected to be completed in early 2024.

Before this transition, the McCook prison housed about 180 low-level offenders. It was known for its successful work programs designed to aid reintegration into society, where inmates often participated in various community service roles. The previous inmates have been reassigned to other facilities across the state, with many paroled or placed on probation.

McCook's transformation was a surprise to local officials and residents after Pillen announced the handover of the prison for federal immigration purposes, tying it to President Trump's immigration policies. The facility has been humorously nicknamed the “Cornhusker Clink,” drawing on Nebraska's nickname and other quirky detention center monikers across the country.

Challenges are already mounting for the state regarding this repurposing, with several Nebraska lawmakers expressing concerns about the potential impact on the overcrowded prison system. A lawsuit was filed by former state senator DiAnna Schimek, alongside other local residents, against Pillen and the director of the state prison system, arguing that only the state Legislature has the authority to change how public buildings are used. A judge has currently refused requests for a temporary injunction against the prison's conversion.

According to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, nearly 60,000 individuals were detained for immigration reasons by mid-September, marking a significant increase in the numbers since the beginning of the year.

As the situation continues to unfold, the state's response to these developments will be closely watched amid broader national discussions about immigration policy and the welfare of detainees.