In a rare move, Nebraska state senators will have the opportunity to visit the state-operated Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in McCook on Monday. This visit comes amidst ongoing controversy and limited transparency surrounding the number of detainees held at the facility.
Senator Machaela Cavanaugh recently revealed that her previous attempt to access the McCook center in November was denied, despite Nebraska legislation allowing legislators to visit state-run prisons anytime. However, a change of course occurred on Thursday when Cavanaugh announced that a tour was set for Monday afternoon. According to Laura Strimple, a spokesperson for Governor Jim Pillen, the tour is available to any senator who completes the necessary federal documentation.
The exact number of individuals detained at the McCook facility remains undisclosed by state officials. The New York Times reported an average daily count of 28 detainees for November. Yet, Governor Pillen had projected a figure closer to 200 by Thanksgiving. A spokesperson from the Department of Correctional Services cited safety and security concerns, at the behest of federal partners, as the reason for withholding the current numbers. While addressing the matter on Wednesday, Governor Pillen refrained from providing specific figures.
“The bottom line is, what we’re focused on is keeping Nebraska safe, keeping our state safe. I’m not zeroed in on exactly how many people are at that” (facility),” Governor Pillen stated, emphasizing the government’s priority on safety over numerical specifics.
