Nebraska to Host Major Immigration Detention Center in McCook, Southwest Part of the State

Strategic Insights -

In a move that reflects the Trump administration's efforts to dramatically increase detention capacity for migrants, a major immigration detention center is set to be built or created in McCook, Red Willow County, Nebraska, according to documents obtained by the Washington Post from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The center will be located at or adjacent to the McCook Work Ethic Camp, a medium-security facility operated by the state prison system, and will have capacity for 300 detainees. The move has raised concerns among local officials and residents, with some questioning the impact on the community and the need for such a facility.

Key Takeaways:

  • The detention center will be located in McCook, Red Willow County, and will have capacity for 300 detainees.
  • The center will be built or created at or adjacent to the McCook Work Ethic Camp, a medium-security facility operated by the state prison system.
  • The facility is intended to house migrants, and is part of the Trump administration's efforts to increase detention capacity.
  • The state of Nebraska has struggled to hire enough staff to use the McCook Work Ethic facility as it was originally intended, to reform younger men who've committed crimes.
  • The camp focuses its counseling and other efforts on encouraging behavior changes to reduce recidivism, but is currently understaffed.
  • The center will be one of 125 immigration detention facilities opened or expanded nationwide this year, with a total capacity to hold more than 107,000 people.
  • ICE plans to contract with jails in eastern Nebraska's Sarpy and Cass Counties for 30 beds each and the Washington County Jail for 15.
  • The federal government is also planning to make more room for detaining parents and children.

Statistics:

  • 300: Capacity of the McCook immigration detention center
  • 125: Number of immigration detention facilities opened or expanded nationwide this year
  • 107,000: Total capacity to hold people in immigration detention facilities nationwide this year
  • 50,000: Current number of people held in immigration detention facilities nationwide
  • 30: Number of beds contracted in eastern Nebraska's Sarpy County
  • 30: Number of beds contracted in eastern Nebraska's Cass County
  • 15: Number of beds contracted in Washington County

Sources:

  • "Documents obtained by the Washington Post from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement"
  • https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/will-nebraska-be-home-to-the-next-alligator-alcatraz/
  • https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/will-nebraska-be-home-to-the-next-alligator-alcatraz/embed/#?secret=h9qBGpqNkX#?secret=pkPMCokXaR