On Saturday, an Omaha‑originating bus carrying nearly 60 mothers and supporters arrived in McCook, Nebraska, to join a rally of about 300 people protesting the state’s partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The demonstration marked the one‑year anniversary of Gov. Jim Pillen’s decision to convert the state’s Work Ethic Camp into a 300‑bed detention center for illegal migrants.
State‑federal partnership under fire
Pillen announced the deal in August 2025, expecting the federal government to pay a $2.45 million base fee each month. To date, Nebraska has received $14.6 million—$9.3 million for occupied beds and $5.3 million for one‑time costs such as vehicles and equipment, according to a Nebraska Department of Correctional Services spokesperson.
The facility began housing foreign‑born detainees in November, with daily populations ranging from roughly 100 to 171 through March, per data from the University of California, Berkeley Law School’s Deportation Data Project.
Local voices demand accountability
Rally organizers, including Nebraska Voices, Taco Tuesday Familia, and the ACLU of Nebraska, displayed signs reading “We have not forgotten.” Speakers highlighted concerns over due process, transparency, and the impact on families. A Lakota elder reminded the crowd that immigration debates trace back to the nation’s founding, while local residents shared personal family histories tied to the region’s shifting borders.
State Sen. Margo Juarez questioned the use of “isolation rooms” under construction at the facility and called for a full accounting. A Red Willow County judge recently ruled in favor of the governor, affirming that the Legislature had previously delegated prison management to the executive branch, thereby upholding the ICE contract.
Law enforcement collaboration expands
Alongside the detention center, Gov. Pillen announced a 287(g) agreement with the Nebraska State Patrol, allowing state troopers to assist ICE. The number of trained troopers grew from six to sixteen, and the patrol reports involvement in roughly 275 immigration‑related detentions or transports across 30 counties, with the federal government reimbursing $277,037.
Critics, including ACLU attorney Grant Friedman, argue the facility provides substandard legal access for detainees, noting that communication often requires full names and immigration IDs that many lack.
Community response and next steps
While the rally proceeded without incident, participants emphasized the need for legislative oversight and a clear path toward humane immigration reform. The contract with ICE remains in effect through at least September 2027, and the state continues renovations slated for completion later this summer.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
