Nebraska plans to open immigration detention center called the ‘Cornhusker Clink’

Nebraska will convert a state prison work camp in McCook into a federal immigration detention center, Gov. Jim Pillen announced Tuesday.

The new facility, dubbed the "Cornhusker Clink," will serve as a hub for detainees from across the Midwest. Officials say it will initially house up to 200 people, with capacity to expand to 300.

The plan is part of President Donald Trump’s push to expand immigration detention capacity as his administration pursues broader deportation efforts.

Why Nebraska is opening an immigration detention facility

Pillen said the decision came after discussions with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The site will use an existing minimum security work camp in McCook, a town of about 7,000 people more than 200 miles west of Lincoln.

"This is about keeping Nebraskans – and Americans across our country – safe," Pillen said in a statement.

Noem promoted the project as part of the administration’s enforcement strategy, telling immigrants in the country illegally to "self deport now using the CBP Home App."

What we know:

The McCook facility will be repurposed from an existing prison camp. About 186 inmates currently housed there will be transferred to other Nebraska facilities over the next 45 to 60 days.

Corrections director Rob Jeffreys said the site is already accredited to hold prisoners, meaning detainees will not be kept in tents or temporary quarters. The center will be run by the state but funded by the federal government.

Pillen also announced that about 20 Nebraska National Guard soldiers will provide logistical support to immigration agents, and six state troopers will assist in arrests.

What we don't know:

Officials did not say whether the facility will house women as well as men, or whether children could be detained there.

Questions also remain about oversight of detainee conditions, access to legal representation, and whether the facility will face the same legal challenges that have arisen at other detention centers.

The backstory:

The Trump administration has been rapidly expanding immigration detention capacity nationwide.

Recent projects include the "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center in Florida’s Everglades, capable of holding up to 3,000 people in tent structures, and the planned "Deportation Depot" in north Florida, which could house up to 2,000 detainees.

Indiana is also preparing a 1,000-bed facility called the "Speedway Slammer," while Tennessee recently approved converting a former prison into a private immigration detention site.

Community reaction to Nebraska’s detention center plan

The other side:

Nebraska’s plan drew immediate criticism from immigrant rights advocates and local leaders.

State Sen. Megan Hunt posted a video blasting what she called a lack of transparency, saying she had requested but not received records related to the plan. "The No. 1 thing we need to do is protect our neighbors," she said.

Protesters gathered outside the governor’s office holding signs that read, "No Nazi Nebraska" and "ICE = Gestapo."

Maghie Miller-Jenkins, a Lincoln resident, said the state should focus on addressing child hunger and homelessness instead of immigration detention. "This state has numerous things they could focus on that would benefit the constituents," she said.

What's next:

The facility could begin operations within two months, once current inmates are transferred and federal contracts are finalized. It is expected to serve as a central Midwest hub for immigration detainees.