From the Associated Press: Nebraska announced plans Tuesday for an immigration detention center in the remote southwest corner of the state as President Donald Trump’s administration races to expand the infrastructure necessary for increasing deportations.
The facility will be dubbed the “Cornhusker Clink,” a play on Nebraska’s nickname of the Cornhusker State and an old slang term for jail. The alliterative name follows in the vein of the previously announced “Alligator Alcatraz” and “Deportation Depot” detention centers in Florida and the “Speedway Slammer” in Indiana.
Republican Gov. Jim Pillen said he and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had agreed to use an existing minimum security prison work camp in McCook — a remote city of about 7,000 people in the middle of the wide-open prairies between Denver and Omaha — to house people awaiting deportation and being held for other immigration proceedings. It’s expected to be a Midwest hub for detainees from several states.
In a post on X, Pillen announced:
Doing our part to support @POTUS and @Sec_Noem’s fight against illegal immigration. 🇺🇸
✅Deploying @NENationalGuard to provide administrative support to ICE agents based in Nebraska.
✅Partnering with DHS to utilize Nebraska’s McCook facility for those awaiting deportation and other immigration proceedings.
✅Signing a letter of intent for the @NEStatePatrol to join the Task Force Model of ICE’s 287(g) agreement empowering our State Troopers to help ICE arrest criminal, illegal aliens.
Doing our part to support @POTUS and @Sec_Noem’s fight against illegal immigration. 🇺🇸
✅Deploying @NENationalGuard to provide administrative support to ICE agents based in Nebraska.
✅Partnering with DHS to utilize Nebraska’s McCook facility for those awaiting deportation and… pic.twitter.com/6sTQOSvjv3
— Governor Jim Pillen (@TeamPillen) August 19, 2025
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced: “COMING SOON to Nebraska: Cornhusker Clink. Today, we’re announcing a new partnership with the state of Nebraska to expand detention bed space by 280 beds.”
“Thanks to Governor Pillen for his partnership to help remove the worst of the worst out of our country. 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.”
Pillen responded: “This is about keeping Nebraskans – and Americans across our country – safe. As his Administration works to secure our borders and keep our streets safe, @POTUS has Nebraska’s support. Grateful for the opportunity to partner with @Sec_Noem and the great public servants and law enforcement officials with DHS and ICE.”
This is about keeping Nebraskans – and Americans across our country – safe.
As his Administration works to secure our borders and keep our streets safe, @POTUS has Nebraska’s support. Grateful for the opportunity to partner with @Sec_Noem and the great public servants and law… https://t.co/FAE0GPHGTV
— Governor Jim Pillen (@TeamPillen) August 20, 2025
DHS added a little humor, posting an image of a cornfield with ICE hats on the ears of corn.
COMING SOON: THE CORNHUSKER CLINK 🌽 https://t.co/jGrZS8opsW pic.twitter.com/W75pCHipHm
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) August 19, 2025
The comical image mirrors one DHS released in June when “Alligator Alcatraz” was announced for Florida:
Coming soon! pic.twitter.com/v3DCJsrDwV
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) June 28, 2025
READ MORE from the Associated Press.
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