A new Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility is set to open soon in McCook, Nebraska. Being called the “Cornhusker Clink,” it’s a joint partnership between the Department of Homeland Security and the state of Nebraska.
‘Cornhusker Clink’
The new facility will be located at the Work Ethic Camp in McCook and will expand ICE detention space in the area by 280 beds.
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“Today the State of Nebraska is stepping up its support of President Trump’s and Secretary Noem’s immigration enforcement initiatives in several key ways,” Gov. Jim Pillen, R-NE, said in a statement. “I am pleased that our facility and team in McCook can be tasked with helping our federal partners protect our homeland by housing criminal illegal aliens roaming our country’s communities today.”
DHS said the funding for this came from the recent budget bill ushered into law by the Trump administration. The bill fully funded the 287(g) program, providing funding for 80,000 more detention beds nationwide.
“Thanks to Governor Pillen for his partnership to help remove the worst of the worst out of our country,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. “If you are in America illegally, you could find yourself in Nebraska’s Cornhusker Clink. Avoid arrest and self deport now using the CBP Home App.”
Nebraska law enforcement help
Along with that announcement, the Nebraska State Patrol announced its intent to sign a 287(g) agreement. The pledge means the state troopers agree to hold and notify federal immigration agents when they encounter an unauthorized immigrant and will detain them until they can be taken into custody.
“I think that it’ll impact the city in a good way,” Deputy Sheriff Kobe Hyland of the Red Willow County Sheriff’s Office told Straight Arrow News. “I think that it could bring in a lot more jobs and keep the jobs that are out there right now. I think that it’ll bring some really good attention to the city of McCook and just show the amazing aspects of it, and just the people here as well.”
He added it’s all about keeping the community safe.
“It’s a way to keep people in this community safe, keep people in Nebraska safe,” Hyland said. “That’s what people like myself and people that will be working out there will be ensuring is the safety of the community and the safety of people in Nebraska and in the whole country.”
Not everyone in the department is as confident about the new facility. Jail administrator for the county, Serge Yeboa, has some questions that have yet to be answered.
“Illegals don’t have any address on file, supposedly,” Yeboa told Straight Arrow News. “Whenever they get released, where do they go? Do we make arrangements to send them wherever they want to go? Do we send them out outside of the United States if the judge thinks that they can’t be in the country? Now, if they are found not guilty and they have to be released, where do we send them?”
Yeboa was also unsure if the facility would house men, women, children or a combination.
He did express that Nebraska is a good place for the facility and that it will add more jobs to the region. But they need people to fill those roles.
“If they need more people, we’re going to have to work on housing here in town, because there’s not much apartment complex around here,” Yeboa said.
“From what I heard, there was six state patrols that was going to be assigned to those different detention centers,” Yeboa continued. “So think about. How many people are coming in? Let’s think worst-case scenario, there’s a riot, and state trooper needs some backup. The deputy needs to have sufficient staffing, enough deputies to be able to cover that.”
Community reaction
The lack of information is something community members want answers to as well. People Straight Arrow News spoke with had heard the news but not much else.
“We’re trying to get more information, so we know how we as a community need to position ourselves,” Andrew Ambriz, owner of Embers Bakery and Cafe, told Straight Arrow News. “How we can be both accommodating and prepared for whatever lies in store, for what’s happening out at the work ethic camp.”
Other business owners are excited for what this new facility will bring.
“I think it will bring a good impact on the business parts, whereby it will influence a movement of people in this town,” Satya Narayan, a local hotel owner, told Straight Arrow News. “There will be facilitators who will be working here. It will bring in more workers into town. Secondly, it will also bring in more business. It will bring in people who are construction workers who will come and help, and then the family visiting the facilities. So, this is a very good development coming in.”
Whether the community likes it or not, it’s certainly a talker in a town of just 7,000 people.
“That’s what the coffee shop talk is all about this morning,” Ambriz said.
