Nebraska Gov Pillen Confirms Expanded ICE Detention Facility McCook, Orders National Guard Support

Governor Jim Pillen announced that Nebraska's Work Ethic Camp in McCook will be repurposed as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility, increasing capacity from 200 to approximately 300 beds. This move is part of a broader effort to support President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement policies, with collaboration from U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and involvement of the Nebraska National Guard, which will provide logistical support with about 20 soldiers assigned to the mission. The facility, nicknamed the 'Cornhusker Clink,' will detain individuals awaiting deportation and other immigration proceedings. While some residents and advocacy groups strongly oppose the creation of the detention center, voicing concerns about transparency and labeling it a 'concentration camp,' others express cautious support for the state's role in enforcing immigration laws. Additionally, Nebraska plans to empower its State Patrol under a 287(g) agreement to assist ICE in arresting criminal, illegal aliens. The announcement reflects Nebraska's active role in federal immigration enforcement efforts and has sparked debate among local communities and leaders about the implications and execution of these policies.