Community Perspective: Dr. Jason Hilker on the ICE Facility Proposal

August 20, 2025

McCOOK Neb. - Dr. Jason Hilker, who has stated plans to run for McCook city council, has been vocal in recent days about the state’s plan to convert the McCook Work Ethic Camp into an ICE detention facility.

Dr. Hilker says he is not opposed to a facility in principle, but believes the current proposal would result in a net loss for McCook. He has criticized what he sees as a lack of transparency and respect for the community:

“Governor Pillen called McCook a Mayberry town. I originally defended the comment as poor word choice, but now it seems it was intentional. The abject disrespect we as a constituency are being shown is abhorrent. Closed meetings, no participation in the process, and that this is being done to us, not with us, is not acceptable.”

Dr. Hilker also expressed frustration that local leaders have stepped aside in favor of a single spokesperson, rather than addressing residents directly:

“Our community leaders missed the opportunity to give the crowd a public address, even if the message is, ‘the information is trickling out but we have a plan to make this beneficial for the community.’ Instead, the people who showed up for answers got nothing.”

Concerns Raised

In conversations, Dr. Hilker pointed to several areas of concern:

• Jobs & Services: With the change, McCook will lose the inmate labor that has provided low-cost help for local projects such as cemetery upkeep and park maintenance. “Those workers aren’t volunteers,” he noted, “they’re paid minimally by the state. Replacing them will require full-time employees the town has to fund.”

• Revenue & Risk: While fuel sales are expected to bring in some money, Hilker believes the larger, higher-margin deportation flights will go through Omaha or Lincoln — meaning most revenue bypasses McCook. He also questioned whether the facility would be long term: “This is a short-term investment. In six to 18 months, the tents could come down and the jobs leave.”

• Community Impact: Dr. Hilker raised concerns about potential ripple effects, such as development near the new sports complex stalling. “Developers aren’t going to want to put houses right next to a federal detention facility,” he said.

• Transparency: He questioned whether a quorum of local councils met without public notice, which if true would raise open meetings concerns. He says he plans to request discussion time at both the city council and county commissioners’ meetings.

A Call for Respectful Engagement

Dr. Hilker emphasized that while protesters at the airport drew headlines, many community members were simply looking for answers:

“The quiet and respectful majority went for answers and received nothing. Demand answers, but keep it respectful.”

He also stressed that his stance is not anti-ICE, but pro-community:

“As proposed, this is a net loss for McCook. I’m looking at it as the governor said — as a business decision. And this is a bad business decision for our town unless something changes.”

Dr. Hilker said he will continue pushing for open discussion:

“We need to see the budget, know what the state agreed to, and be part of the planning process. Pray for McCook and our leaders that we will be successful in making this a win for our community.”

📌 This is one perspective from a community member. McCook News Now will continue to share additional viewpoints from across the community in the coming week.