The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Tuesday that the state’s Work Ethic Camp will be converted into an immigration detention center with capacity for roughly 280 detainees. Current inmates, estimated at 186, will be relocated within two months.
The initiative is part of the administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which expanded federal funding for ICE facilities nationwide. Similar state-federal partnerships have already established detention centers in Florida and Indiana.
Nebraska’s Department of Correctional Services will maintain operational control with federal funding. The Nebraska National Guard will provide logistical support, while the State Patrol is expected to enter a 287(g) agreement enabling officers to assist in immigration enforcement.
The announcement sparked protests in Lincoln and McCook, with activists and civil liberties groups, including the ACLU, warning of human rights concerns. Supporters argue the project will strengthen border enforcement and bring jobs to the region.
This marks the third state-run detention facility established under Trump, following Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” and Indiana’s “Speedway Slammer.”
