Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, a Republican, announced Tuesday that an immigration detention center will be established in the state’s southwest farming region, as President Donald Trump’s administration continues to expand facilities to hold immigrants awaiting deportation.
Pillen said he and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem agreed to convert an existing inmate work camp into a site for individuals detained in immigration proceedings.
The facility will be named the “Cornhusker Clink,” a nod to Nebraska’s nickname, the Cornhusker State, combined with an old slang term for jail.
Why It Matters
The move comes amid a nationwide expansion of detention infrastructure. In June, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities held more than 56,000 immigrants—the highest number since 2019. New and planned facilities, often featuring alliterative names, include the Florida Everglades’ remote Alligator Alcatraz, which can hold up to 3,000 detainees in tent structures, as well as Deportation Depot in north Florida, a proposed facility in Mason, Tennessee, and the 1,000-bed Speedway Slammer in Indiana.
Some of these new centers, including Alligator Alcatraz, have already faced lawsuits and local opposition over conditions, environmental compliance, and transparency.
What To Know
Pillen said the camp in McCook, a remote city of about 7,000 located between Denver and Omaha, would be converted into a detention site for individuals awaiting deportation or other immigration proceedings. The facility is expected to serve as a Midwest hub, housing detainees from several surrounding states.
The facility can accommodate 200 people initially, with plans to expand to 300. McCook is roughly 210 miles west of Lincoln, the state capital.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s agency posted a photo on social media showing ears of corn in ICE hats standing before a prison fence. Speaking later at a news conference in McCook, Pillen said the detention center benefits from being near a regional airport. He added that it is not yet clear whether women or children will be held there and said he first learned of federal interest in the site on Friday.
Pillen also announced the deployment of about 20 Nebraska National Guard soldiers to provide administrative and logistical support to immigration agents in the state. In addition, six Nebraska State Patrol troopers will assist federal agents in making arrests.
Around half a dozen protesters gathered outside the governor’s office Tuesday afternoon, holding signs reading, “No Nazi Nebraska” and “ICE = Gestapo.”
What People Are Saying
Pillen said in a statement, “This is about keeping Nebraskans – and Americans across our country – safe.”
Noem stated, “Thanks to Governor Pillen for his partnership to help remove the worst of the worst out of our country. If you are in America illegally, you could find yourself in Nebraska’s Cornhusker Clink.”
Sen. Megan Hunt, an independent, criticized what she described as a lack of transparency from the governor and said local immigrant communities are being unfairly targeted: “The No. 1 thing we need to do is protect our neighbors, protect the people in our communities who are being targeted by these horrible people, these horrible organizations that are making choices to lock up, detain, disappear our neighbors and families and friends,” Hunt said in a video posted to social media.
What’s Next
Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys said the 186 inmates currently at the McCook work camp will be moved to other state prisons within 45 to 60 days. He noted the facility is already accredited to hold prisoners, meaning detainees will be housed in permanent quarters rather than tents or temporary structures.
