OMAHA, Neb. — The McCook state prison in Nebraska has undergone reconfiguration to serve as a federal immigration detention center, with the first detainees arriving earlier this week, according to Governor Jim Pillen. The facility, located in a remote area of Nebraska, is expected to reach its full capacity of 200 detainees by Thanksgiving, with plans for further expansion to accommodate an additional 100 beds.
Previously known as the McCook Work Ethic Camp, the prison had housed low-level offenders participating in rehabilitation programs aimed at reducing recidivism. With this transition, those inmates have been relocated to other facilities, prompting concerns among some local residents regarding the implications of the facility's new role.
Local leaders and residents were taken aback when the governor announced the shift in purpose back in August as part of a broader federal immigration enforcement strategy linked to the Trump administration's initiatives. Nebraska officials and the Department of Homeland Security have dubbed the facility 'Cornhusker Clink,' a moniker inspired by Nebraska's nickname.
However, the move has drawn legal challenges. Former state senator DiAnna Schimek and a group of citizens have filed a lawsuit against the governor and the state's prison system director, arguing that only the state legislature has the authority to repurpose public buildings. A judge has declined to halt the prison's conversion, but the legal battle continues.
Amidst these developments, the larger picture of immigration detention in the United States shows a significant rise, with reported figures reaching approximately 60,000 detainees in mid-September, a notable increase attributed to policy enforcement changes over the past year.
