New Immigration Detention Center Opens in Nebraska Amid Local Controversy

Fri Dec 05 2025 04:49:10 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Cornhusker Clink, a federal immigration detention facility, has commenced operations in McCook, Nebraska, replacing a low-security prison and raising concerns about the state's overcrowded penal system.

Nebraska's Governor Jim Pillen announced the reconfiguration of a minimum-security prison in McCook to serve as a federal immigration detention center. As the facility prepares to reach full capacity by Thanksgiving, there have been legal challenges from local residents who argue that the decision bypassed the state legislature's authority. The center, humorously dubbed the 'Cornhusker Clink,' is part of a broader trend of similar facilities across the country, and reflects ongoing debates about immigration policy and its ramifications on local communities.

OMAHA, Neb. — The state prison in McCook, Nebraska, has been adapted to serve as a federal immigration detention center, dubbed the Cornhusker Clink. As of Thursday, the facility has begun accepting detainees, with plans to hold up to 200 immigrants by Thanksgiving. Governor Jim Pillen announced the change following a controversial decision to hand the prison over to federal authorities as part of a nationwide crackdown on immigration.

Local officials and residents were taken by surprise when the announcement was made in August. The transition marks a shift from its previous role as the McCook Work Ethic Camp, which housed low-level offenders who participated in rehabilitation programs. The local community is now grappling with the implications of this transformation, as the facility was considered an asset for reducing recidivism among inmates.

Currently, the facility is reported to have around 50 to 60 detainees, with plans for an expansion expected to bring the total capacity to 300 early in the next year.

However, the decision has sparked legal challenges from former state Senator DiAnna Schimek and a group of McCook residents. They assert that only the Nebraska state legislature has the authority to repurpose state facilities and have filed a lawsuit against the governor and state prison officials. A judge has denied an initial request to halt the conversion, and the legal proceedings continue.

The changes come amid rising numbers of individuals in immigration detention, which have grown by 51% since January. Critics argue that the use of facilities like the Cornhusker Clink represents a worrying trend in the U.S. immigration system, particularly highlighting the impact on detainees who often have no prior criminal background. About 70% of those detained in the system are reported to have no significant criminal records.