More Than 18,000 Nebraskans Sign Petition Opposing ICE Facility at McCook’s Work Ethic Camp

McCook, Neb. — Opposition is growing against Governor Jim Pillen’s plan to convert the Work Ethic Camp in McCook into a federal immigration detention facility.

Nebraska Appleseed, a nonprofit advocacy group, announced this week that more than 18,300 Nebraskans from 386 communities signed a petition rejecting the proposal. The petition was delivered to the governor’s office along with thousands of public comments from across the state.

Numerous McCook residents voiced objections:

• “As a resident and someone who grew up in McCook, we do not want this in our town or our state.”

• “It has become a universal opinion of our city, regardless of party or school of thought, that transforming the Work Ethic Camp into a detention center is not only short-sighted but cruel and amoral.”

• “Our prison systems, school systems, and housing shortages need to be addressed way more than this ‘issue.’ If you actually knew our community, you would know how terrible of an idea this is!”

Concerns were also raised by residents from 386 communities all across Nebraska - Columbus, Hebron, Hastings, Ord, and others - many of whom said the project would harm Nebraska’s reputation and values.

Many Nebraskans noted that instead of expanding detention, policymakers should focus on updating the nation’s immigration system, which has not seen major reform in nearly 40 years.

“Thousands and thousands of Nebraska voices have spoken clearly, saying this is not who we are,” said Darcy Tromanhauser, program director for immigrants and communities at Nebraska Appleseed. “We do not want to be known as a state that separates families and locks up members of our communities.”