In a significant development for immigration enforcement, the McCook Work Ethic Camp has been approved by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for housing individuals accused of immigration violations, according to state officials. This approval follows a comprehensive inspection of the facility, signaling a shift in its purpose under new directives.
Governor Jim Pillen acknowledged the challenges faced during the preparation phase, which included transferring inmates, modifying buildings, and training staff. He remarked, “Getting the final pieces pulled together has admittedly been a little bit of a moving target and has been made more difficult with the Schumer shutdown,” in a statement released to the public.
Although the facility was initially expected to begin receiving detainees by the end of the month, Governor Pillen noted that coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security might affect the timeline. The exact schedule for receiving detainees remains under arrangement.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, a lawsuit filed last week seeks to prevent the camp from being used as a federal detention center. Initiated by over a dozen McCook residents along with a former state senator, the lawsuit challenges the governor’s authority over state penal institutions and argues against the repurposing of public buildings without proper appropriation.
The first hearing for a preliminary injunction is scheduled for Friday in McCook, which could impact the facility’s future use.
Details of a contract revealed last week indicate the Nebraska Department of Corrections will receive approximately $2.5 million monthly throughout the two-year contract. Additionally, a one-time payment of nearly $5.9 million was allocated for facility upgrades to accommodate up to 300 detainees, with state officials projecting annual net earnings of about $14 million.
