(NEBRASKA, UNITED STATES) Nebraska’s plan to convert the McCook Work Ethic Camp into an immigrant detention center has triggered sharp pushback and a growing list of unanswered questions, leaving the project in limbo as autumn approaches. Announced on August 19, 2025, the conversion would turn the minimum-security state prison in McCook into an ICE facility, initially for about 200 detainees, with room to grow to 300 by refitting multipurpose and activity rooms.
Governor Jim Pillen and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem unveiled the plan as part of a wider federal effort under President Trump to expand detention capacity nationwide. Yet as of September 13, 2025, officials acknowledge that no formal agreement has been signed, and the timeline for receiving detainees—possibly as soon as October—remains uncertain.
Proposal mechanics and timeline
Under the proposal, Nebraska would operate the site while the federal government funds it through a one-year contract with potential extensions. The state has already begun transferring the camp’s current population—estimated at 155–186 inmates—to other facilities, a process corrections leaders say will take 45–60 days.
Rob Jeffreys, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services director, says the revamped site will hold “low to medium-risk detainees,” stressing that there are no plans for tents or temporary structures. He also concedes that the pace of ICE transfers depends on federal coordination and final approvals.
Key operational facts:
– Initial capacity: ~200 detainees, expandable to 300.
– Current inmate population: 155–186 being transferred.
– Staff retraining: 97 employees to be retrained, with additional hires planned.
– Transfer timeline (state estimate): 45–60 days to move current inmates.
Costs, staffing, and oversight concerns
Local leaders and lawmakers say the administration has offered few hard numbers on costs, staffing, or the exact oversight structure. McCook Mayor Linda Taylor voiced frustration with the lack of community input and promised to push for more details.
State lawmakers’ responses:
– State Sen. Wendy DeBoer: briefings yielded “few concrete answers.”
– State Sen. Terrell McKinney: raised concerns about overcrowding, building code compliance, and public safety.
– State Sen. Megan Hunt: criticized a closed process and urged stronger legislative guardrails.
Critically, officials have not provided:
– A full accounting of expected conversion costs (classrooms/common rooms).
– The federal reimbursement structure and staffing pay scales.
– Public plans for medical care transitions, intake procedures, or independent monitoring.
Law enforcement component and 287(g)
The plan’s law enforcement element has intensified debate. Nebraska State Patrol is joining ICE under a 287(g) Task Force Model, which allows six troopers to question people they suspect are noncitizens and make immigration arrests without a warrant.
Additional support:
– The Nebraska National Guard will provide up to 20 personnel for administrative and logistical support through at least November 15, 2025.
Supporters say these steps will help remove individuals who pose risks. Opponents argue the approach invites profiling, increases the chance of mistaken arrests, and can separate families—especially when it operates with limited transparency.
For the official program framework, see ICE’s 287(g) standards: ICE 287(g) Program.
Messaging from leaders and political dispute
Secretary Noem warned, “If you are in America illegally, you could find yourself in Nebraska’s Cornhusker Clink. Avoid arrest and self deport now using the CBP Home App,” setting the tone for a harder enforcement push.
Governor Pillen framed the move as a public safety measure: “This is about keeping Nebraskans – and Americans across our country – safe.” He also insists state law gives him the authority to repurpose the facility without legislative approval.
A group of 13 lawmakers disputes that claim and has questioned whether shifting a state prison into federal use can happen without the Legislature. That dispute could move into the courts or resurface in the 2026 session if lawmakers pursue limits on executive power or demand more oversight.
National context and funding
The Nebraska site, dubbed the “Cornhusker Clink,” mirrors new or expanded facilities in other states—nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” in Florida and “Speedway Slammer” in Indiana—that have drawn lawsuits and rights complaints.
Relevant nationwide figures cited by officials:
– ICE detention populations topping 56,000 as of June 2025 (highest since 2019).
– Congressional appropriations cited: $45 billion for detention and nearly $30 billion for ICE agents and resources.
These numbers indicate a significant federal scale-up, of which Nebraska’s plan is one part.
Human impacts and community reaction
Critics emphasize the human stakes. Nebraska Appleseed called the plan a “harmful, dangerous and rapid expansion” of immigration detention, warning that family separation and community harm will follow.
Community responses:
– Local protesters rallied at the governor’s office, urging investment in schools, housing, and mental health care instead of detention beds.
– Signs and rhetoric at protests have included harsh historical comparisons, reflecting a charged climate.
– VisaVerge.com reports advocates documenting limits on legal access and due process at fast-tracked sites—lawyers struggling to meet clients and families traveling long distances for visitation.
Key concerns include:
– Reduced access to attorneys and legal services.
– Language barriers and uneven medical care.
– Long transfers that separate detainees from their support networks.
Operational uncertainty and oversight questions
As corrections staff prepare to retrain the camp’s 97 employees and hire more workers, core questions remain unresolved.
Outstanding operational questions:
– Which federal standards will apply without a signed agreement?
– How will grievances be handled and published?
– Are there plans for independent monitoring or regular inspections?
– What are the intake and medical-care transition procedures?
Civil liberties groups point to patterns at similar facilities—limited attorney access, language barriers, uneven medical care—and note potential legal challenges on detainee treatment and the limits of state executive authority.
Impact on McCook and the state corrections system
For McCook, converting the work-camp model could mean:
– Loss of local projects and job-training programs that community members valued.
– Strain on local services and an altered town image as a detention hub.
– Families of current inmates seeking clarity on transfer locations and program continuity.
Statewide system impacts:
– Remaining facilities must absorb transferred inmates, many already near capacity.
– Staff retention and morale may be affected by the shift from a work-camp environment to federal detention duties.
– Local unions and hiring managers seek clarity on pay, overtime, and safety protocols—none of which are public yet.
What supporters and opponents say
Supporters:
– Argue detaining people with criminal records or open warrants protects communities.
– Believe the state can run a safer, more accountable site than private contractors.
Opponents:
– Cite documented problems across the detention system.
– Warn that expanding detention keeps many people in custody while cases move slowly.
– Stress that oversight gaps—at public as well as private sites—can put lives at risk.
Near-term milestones to watch
The next milestones are straightforward but important:
- Finish the inmate transfers from McCook without causing crowding or program losses elsewhere.
- Complete retrofits that turn classrooms and multipurpose spaces into secure, humane housing areas with adequate ventilation, recreation, and privacy.
- Finalize and publish the contract so the public can see standards for inspections, medical care, attorney access, and visitation.
- Implement the 287(g) partnership with public training materials and clear rules to reduce profiling or wrongful arrests.
- Set up easy-to-use channels for complaints and audits so problems are resolved early.
Important: Without a signed agreement and transparent operational plans, major questions about oversight, costs, detainee welfare, and community impacts will remain unresolved.
Nebraska’s leaders have cast this as a safety-first move aligned with federal priorities. Skeptics see a rushed plan with high stakes for families and communities. Both perspectives can be true: the state can aim for safety while still needing sunlight, careful planning, and firm safeguards. Whether the McCook Work Ethic Camp becomes the Cornhusker Clink in October or later, the outcome will hinge on what gets written into the final agreement and how it is carried out day to day.
This Article in a Nutshell
Nebraska’s August 19, 2025 proposal would convert the McCook Work Ethic Camp into an ICE detention facility holding roughly 200 detainees, expandable to 300. The state would operate the site under federal funding via a proposed one-year contract; however, as of September 13, 2025, no formal agreement has been signed. Authorities are transferring the camp’s 155–186 inmates to other facilities (estimated 45–60 days) and plan to retrain about 97 employees. Key unresolved issues include conversion costs, federal reimbursement structure, staffing pay scales, medical-care transitions, intake procedures, and independent monitoring. The plan includes a 287(g) law enforcement partnership with six Nebraska State Patrol troopers and potential National Guard logistical support. Local leaders, civil liberties groups, and lawmakers have raised concerns about transparency, profiling, attorney access, and community impacts. Near-term milestones include completing transfers, finishing retrofits, publishing the contract, implementing 287(g) with clear rules, and setting complaint and audit channels.
