McCook Work Ethic Camp (Cornhusker Clink) — State prison converted to 300-bed ICE detention center · NE · 300 beds (Phase 1: 200, Phase 2: 100) · Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS)

Overview

The Work Ethic Camp in McCook, Nebraska was converted from a low-security state prison into a federal immigration detention center in fall 2025, under a direct partnership between Governor Jim Pillen and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Branded the “Cornhusker Clink”, it is the first state-operated ICE detention facility of its kind — run by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services rather than a private contractor or county sheriff.

Key Details

Capacity: 300 beds (200 Phase 1, 100 Phase 2 expansion)
Operator: Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS)
Contract signed: September 30, 2025
Contract period: Sept 30, 2025 – Sept 29, 2027 (with optional extensions)
ICE certified: October 23, 2025
First detainees received: Early November 2025
Daily rate: $269.17 per detainee
Monthly payment: $2,456,138.64
State renovation cost: ~$6 million to meet ICE standards
Net annual revenue to state: ~$14.25 million after costs

Timeline

August 19, 2025: DHS announces partnership with Nebraska; Gov. Pillen announces “Cornhusker Clink” alongside Sec. Noem
August 27, 2025: Nebraska lawmakers seek legislative hearing into plans
September 30, 2025: Contract officially signed (183 pages)
October 17, 2025: Contract published publicly
October 23, 2025: ICE certifies facility
October 28, 2025: NDCS outlines transfers of former WEC inmates to other facilities
November 1, 2025: Facility begins accepting ICE detainees (~50-60 initially)
Late November 2025: Phase 1 (200 beds) at full capacity
December 2025: State lawmaker twice denied entry, calls it a law violation
February 2026: ACLU Nebraska files first federal lawsuits on behalf of detainees
February 10, 2026: Federal judge sides with McCook detainee in ACLU lawsuit (Carlos Roldan Chang)
Late March 2026: Eighth Circuit rules 2-1 for the government’s no-bond mandatory-detention position, narrowing the statutory basis for McCook detainees’ habeas suits going forward
March 27, 2026: Red Willow County District Court Judge Patrick M. Heng dismisses the resident lawsuit challenging the conversion (Schimek case)
April 23, 2026: Nebraska Appleseed appeals the dismissal on separation-of-powers grounds
May 14, 2026: Closure of Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” prompts questions about McCook; state reaffirms commitment through Sept 29, 2027 contract end

Legal Challenges

ACLU Nebraska Lawsuits (February 2026)

Two federal lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court of Nebraska:

Semere Gherezgiher (Eritrean) — ACLU argues indefinite detention after removal order violates due process
Carlos Roldan Chang (Guatemalan) — Judge Susan Bazis ordered ICE to arrange bond hearing within 7 days

Both cases highlight problems with attorney access at the hybrid state-federal facility. The facility’s remote location (McCook, pop. ~7,500) makes legal representation extremely difficult.

Local Opposition Lawsuit (Schimek case)

McCook residents — former state Sen. DiAnna Schimek and 13 others — filed suit (Oct 15, 2025) to stop the conversion, arguing Gov. Pillen and NDCS Director Rob Jeffreys lacked unilateral authority to repurpose the prison. A temporary injunction was denied, and on March 27, 2026 Red Willow County District Court Judge Patrick M. Heng dismissed the case, finding the legislature had not limited NDCS detention authority to sentenced inmates. Nebraska Appleseed appealed on April 23, 2026 on separation-of-powers grounds.

Eighth Circuit No-Bond Ruling (late March 2026)

A three-judge panel of the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 backing the government’s position that most undocumented immigrants can be detained without bond regardless of criminal history or community ties. This eliminates the primary statutory hook for McCook detainees’ wrongful-detention habeas petitions (≈30 filed in Nebraska federal court since summer 2025, most winning release pre-ruling) and pushes future challenges toward constitutional due-process theories.

“Alligator Alcatraz” Comparison (May 2026)

After Florida shuttered its “Alligator Alcatraz” facility, attention turned to McCook as a comparable politically-branded state-ICE facility. Nebraska reaffirmed its commitment to the contract running through Sept 29, 2027; no early-closure plans announced.

Legislative Access Denied

A Nebraska state lawmaker was twice denied entry to inspect the facility in December 2025, calling it a violation of state law.

Minnesota Transfer Hub

As of February 2026, the facility has become a receiving point for Minnesota ICE detainees. At least 7 cases involve detainees held at McCook who were arrested in Minnesota, creating cross-state legal representation challenges.

Why It Matters

This is a novel model: a state government directly operating ICE detention rather than a county jail IGSA or private contractor. It represents Governor Pillen’s signature alignment with Trump administration immigration policy and generates significant revenue for a budget-stressed state. The facility’s remote location, attorney access problems, and the state’s role as operator make it a uniquely challenging accountability case.

Detention Pipeline

McCook Work Ethic Camp (Cornhusker Clink) — State prison converted to 300-bed ICE detention center