OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Plans to repurpose a Nebraska state prison as an immigration detention center have faced growing scrutiny more than three weeks after Governor Jim Pillen announced the initiative. Despite assurances from corrections officials that the McCook Work Ethic Camp could begin housing detainees as soon as next month, local lawmakers and residents remain unconvinced due to a lack of concrete information on several critical issues, including costs and staffing.
State Senator Wendy DeBoer remarked, 'There were more unanswered questions than answered questions in terms of what they know.'
The sudden announcement, which repositioned the minimum-security prison as a regional hub for immigration enforcement, threw officials in McCook into a state of confusion. Many were unaware of the plan until it was revealed, leaving local leaders feeling sidelined. Mike O'Dell, publisher of the McCook Gazette, expressed frustration, stating, 'City leaders were given absolutely no choice in the matter.'
Though McCook residents generally supported Trump in the 2024 election, many have become familiar with the camp's current low-level offenders who work in the community. 'People here have gotten to know them in many cases,' O'Dell said, questioning the implications of potentially housing detainees instead.
As the situation unfolds, local lawmakers worry about the long-term feasibility and regulatory compliance of such a shift, especially since the facility was initially designed to accommodate fewer prisoners than the revised capacity suggests. Concerns regarding a lack of formal agreements and necessary state approvals compound the skepticism surrounding the transition, leading to calls for more substantial oversight and clarity from state officials.
State Senator Wendy DeBoer remarked, 'There were more unanswered questions than answered questions in terms of what they know.'
The sudden announcement, which repositioned the minimum-security prison as a regional hub for immigration enforcement, threw officials in McCook into a state of confusion. Many were unaware of the plan until it was revealed, leaving local leaders feeling sidelined. Mike O'Dell, publisher of the McCook Gazette, expressed frustration, stating, 'City leaders were given absolutely no choice in the matter.'
Though McCook residents generally supported Trump in the 2024 election, many have become familiar with the camp's current low-level offenders who work in the community. 'People here have gotten to know them in many cases,' O'Dell said, questioning the implications of potentially housing detainees instead.
As the situation unfolds, local lawmakers worry about the long-term feasibility and regulatory compliance of such a shift, especially since the facility was initially designed to accommodate fewer prisoners than the revised capacity suggests. Concerns regarding a lack of formal agreements and necessary state approvals compound the skepticism surrounding the transition, leading to calls for more substantial oversight and clarity from state officials.
