Announcement Catches WEC Employees Off Guard
Gov. Jim Pillen’s late August announcement that the Work Ethic Camp (WEC) north of McCook will become an ICE detention facility came as a shock to the staff.
Employees learned of the plan only one hour before the news became public. Pillen attempted to reassure them: “All of the folks that work in the facility, the 85 or 86 people that are employed and work at the Department of Corrections, will continue in the same fashion.”
The facility is expected to operate under a 365-day contract, with the option to extend. Staff will be converted to ICE-aligned operations, receiving “orientation specific to ICE standards.” Still, uncertainty remains among employees and families regarding the long-term fate of the facility and their employment post-contract.
State Pushed to Offer WEC to Federal Government
Recent legislative testimony confirmed the state offered WEC, not the other way around.
State Sen. Wendy DeBoer said, “Nebraska reached out, and then was given a number of questions…about staffing levels and things like that.” She also clarified lawmakers are waiting on a formal agreement: “We’re told if and when an agreement is made…at that point at least the legislature will be apprised of that.”
Sen. Victor Rountree noted concerns over costs for the state. Locals in McCook also question what kind of support the government will offer to the town.
McCook Officials Limited by Federal Property Ownership
McCook city officials and Red Willow County leaders have emphasized that the WEC sits on state-owned land, limiting local control over zoning and permitting. In a joint press release, officials explained, “Because it is State of Nebraska owned property, the zoning regulations and procedures that apply to standard use matters, do not apply. This distinction…means that the state may proceed independently of local zoning ordinances.”
Despite this limitation, city leaders stressed their commitment to community development and safety. “Our priority is to continue building a community where people are proud to live, work, and play,” the press release said.
Ongoing community projects include the P.F.C. Gerald L. Walters Youth Sports Complex, the expansion of McCook Industrial Park Phase II, the North Pointe Subdivision, and the recently completed McCook Aquatic Center, all of which aim to enhance recreational, residential, and commercial opportunities for residents.
City and county officials emphasized transparency and promised to keep the public informed as additional details about the facility become available.
Overcrowding Pressure Mounts as Inmates Must Be Relocated
Nebraska’s prison system faces significant overcrowding, currently operating at 147% of its design capacity, according to the Inspector General of Corrections’ 2025 annual report.
The transfer of 186 inmates from WEC is expected to take place over a 45–60 day period.
Relocating existing WEC inmates will require logistical planning, as the state’s detention facilities are stretched thin. Pillen highlighted the operational flexibility of the state’s corrections system, but acknowledged the challenges: “We have flex in our operational capacity of our prisons…we’re focused on operational capacity.” The move underscores the delicate balance between repurposing existing facilities for federal use and maintaining stability in Nebraska’s already overburdened prison system.
Public Outcry: Protests and 18,000+ Petition Signatures
Opposition has surged statewide. On September 1, protestors in North Platte joined a nationwide movement against Trump-era immigration policies.
Public opposition to the ICE detention facility in McCook has spread quickly across the state. A petition launched by advocacy groups has gathered more than 18,300 signatures from residents in 386 towns and cities, according to organizers.
In their statement, organizers said: “Nebraskans made it clear: More than 18,300 people from 386 towns and cities throughout our state signed this petition saying this is NOT who we are. Nebraska is a state that welcomes our neighbors and values the contributions of local moms, dads, coworkers, neighbors, and friends.”
The petition also pointed to the lack of federal immigration reform, noting that U.S. immigration laws have not been meaningfully updated in nearly 40 years. “We need policy change, NOT punishment,” the statement read.
Organizers warned that opening the detention center could damage Nebraska’s reputation, linking it to family separation and expanded enforcement actions. They urged Governor Jim Pillen to reject what they called “a cruel and harmful ICE detainment camp” and instead represent “Nebraska values.”
Staffing Expansion and Security Plans Raise Questions
The ICE conversion will include 20 National Guard personnel and six State Patrol officers joining WEC staff, with roles in administrative support and logistics.
Pillen said: “They will assist ICE in administrative taking fingerprints, doing swabs, checking people in and out, working with transportation logistics.”
While the state maintains all current WEC staff are safe under the contract, lawmakers are watching closely to see if benefits and training remain intact.
Next Steps Clouded Amid Legislative Oversight Calls
No agreement has been formally signed, though state officials anticipate a 365-day intergovernmental service contract.
"And you can be rest assured I and your mayor are going to make sure nothing changes in the community of McCook," said Gov. Pillen in his McCook press conference Aug. 19. "That security is actually enhanced and that it will. McCook will go down in history, making an extraordinary difference in correcting some really, really silly things that have taken place in this country in the last four years."
Lawmakers expressed frustration over the lack of legislative involvement: “The executive branch has been responsive…but a public hearing is premature,” said Judiciary Chair Sen. Carolyn Bosn.
With public protests, employee anxiety, and questions about capacity, Nebraska awaits clarity on WEC’s future as a potential ICE hub.