(MCCOOK, NEBRASKA) Immigrants facing federal proceedings began arriving at the McCook Work Ethic Camp in early November 2025, after Nebraska officials converted the minimum-security prison into a federal immigration detention center. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen said the facility started accepting detainees on Monday, November 3, 2025, and by Thursday, November 6, it held roughly 50 to 60 people.
State officials project the center will reach an initial 200-bed capacity by Thanksgiving, with a second phase planned to add 100 more beds by early 2026, bringing total capacity to 300. The decision has set off a fast-moving legal and political fight in this southwest Nebraska city while arrivals continue.
Background and facility conversion
The center — still commonly called the McCook Work Ethic Camp — had housed about 180 low-level offenders enrolled in rehabilitation programs before the shift. Most of those inmates were moved to community corrections in Omaha and Lincoln, according to state officials.
The conversion was coordinated on a tight schedule, reflecting a broader federal push to add bed space as immigration cases move through the courts. In a nod to Nebraska’s identity, some state and federal officials have taken to calling the site the “Cornhusker Clink,” a nickname that has circulated as the facility’s role changes.
How the site will scale
State officials have framed the conversion as an immediate answer to federal capacity needs, noting the facility’s existing dorm-style layout and prior staffing make it possible to scale quickly.
Key dates and targets:
– November 3, 2025 — facility began accepting detainees.
– By November 6, 2025 — roughly 50 to 60 people housed.
– Thanksgiving 2025 — projected 200-bed capacity.
– Early 2026 — planned expansion to 300 total beds.
Supporters cite:
– Existing dorm-style housing and staffing
– The ability to monitor the site within current security systems
– Readiness to accommodate people moving from initial processing to immigration hearings
Community reaction and concerns
What began as a corrections program focused on work readiness and treatment has now become part of the federal detention pipeline for people awaiting immigration court hearings. This rapid shift has generated anxiety and criticism from multiple local stakeholders.
Community concerns include:
– The speed of the conversion and perceived lack of clear input from lawmakers
– Whether a site once used for rehabilitation should now hold people awaiting immigration court
– Potential impacts on McCook’s identity, daily life, and public safety perceptions
Local officials emphasize that the detainees are in civil immigration custody, not serving state criminal sentences. Still, many residents focus less on labels and more on the broader implications for the town.
Legal challenges
A lawsuit by 14 McCook residents challenges the governor’s authority to repurpose the facility without legislative approval.
Current legal status:
– A Red Willow District Court judge declined to issue a temporary injunction to halt the conversion, allowing operations to proceed while the case continues.
– The denial cleared the way for ongoing transfers to McCook as lawyers prepare next steps.
– Residents and legal teams expect court decisions to address the scope of executive power versus state oversight and community input; no timeline for a final ruling has been announced.
Advocacy, alternatives, and policy context
Civil-rights and immigrant-advocacy groups have criticized the move and offered alternatives.
Notable positions:
– The ACLU of Nebraska and Nebraska Appleseed question the state’s authority to repurpose the facility without legislative approval and argue the move expands Nebraska’s role in federal detention.
– Advocates emphasize that immigration detention is civil custody tied to court appearances, not criminal punishment.
– They propose alternatives such as case management, transportation support, and legal access programs that would allow people to remain in their communities while their cases proceed.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, community groups in Nebraska continue to press for reforms emphasizing case management over detention as a more humane and cost-effective approach.
Oversight, standards, and implementation
The legal fight in McCook mirrors a national debate about detention location, standards, and oversight.
Important points:
– Federal detention sites must follow baseline rules on health care, visitation, and safety.
– Inspections occur on a set schedule.
– More guidance is available through the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention standards: https://www.ice.gov/detention-standards
Local leaders and advocates say they will watch closely to see how those standards are implemented at the McCook site as the population grows.
Local impacts and practical effects
As the first week wrapped, the numbers were still small but the timeline was clear. With about 50 to 60 people already inside by November 6, state officials expect daily transfers to move the facility toward 200 by Thanksgiving, and onward to 300 in the next construction phase.
Expected local implications:
– Longer drives and more coordination for families visiting detainees
– Increased coordination with lawyers who often work from larger Nebraska cities or other states
– New jobs for some residents, and renewed questions about the town’s character and priorities
Perspectives and next steps
The “Cornhusker Clink” nickname has landed uneasily with some locals who see it as flippant; for many, the issue is about people, not branding. Supporters who accept the federal need for space stress the transition should be smooth and respectful, with clear provisions for medical care, language access, and communication with counsel.
Opponents call for:
– Slower rollout and reconsideration of legislative oversight
– Evaluation of whether the camp’s rehabilitation mission can coexist with immigration detention at this scale
What happens next will be shaped by court filings and the continued arrival of detainees through November 2025. The pending lawsuit keeps legal questions in play even as buses continue to arrive. Governor Pillen’s office has remained focused on the rollout, while groups like the ACLU of Nebraska and Nebraska Appleseed continue organizing and meeting with residents.
For now, the McCook Work Ethic Camp sits at the center of a fast-moving policy conflict that blends local pride, state authority, and federal immigration enforcement into a single, highly watched Nebraska story.
Key takeaway: The rapid conversion of a rehabilitation-focused camp into a federal immigration detention site has immediate operational targets, ongoing legal challenges, and broad community implications — all unfolding through late November 2025 and into early 2026.
This Article in a Nutshell
Nebraska converted the McCook Work Ethic Camp into a federal immigration detention center beginning November 3, 2025, housing about 50–60 people by November 6. Officials expect 200 beds by Thanksgiving and 300 after an early-2026 expansion. The swift repurposing moved roughly 180 prior low-level inmates and sparked community concern, criticism from advocacy groups, and a lawsuit by 14 residents challenging gubernatorial authority. A district judge denied a temporary injunction, allowing transfers to continue while legal challenges proceed.
