Nebraska state senator said she was denied access to McCook ICE facility

A state senator claims she was illegally denied access to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in McCook.

Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh said she tried to visit the facility Nov. 12 and 13 but was turned away. Nebraska state law says members of the Legislature can visit correctional facilities at any time. But Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys told Cavanaugh in an email she also had to conform to federal ICE protocols and provide sufficient notice for a visit.

Cavanaugh said she has complained to the Legislature’s Executive Board and Oversight Committee, but no action has yet been taken. Now she is considering a lawsuit.

"I am going to be consulting with attorneys to seek legal avenues of my own, assuming that the legislature continues to take no action on behalf of ourselves," she said.

The denial of access drew criticism from Jennifer Houlden, acting legal director for ACLU Nebraska, who said senators’ ability to get eyes on these closed environments helps "keep our government accountable.”

But the email from Jeffreys says the law granting senators access "does not displace protocols for the security and safety of corrections facilities.”

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