Pillen says ICE detainees could start arriving in McCook this week
By Fred Knapp 
, Senior Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media
Nov. 3, 2025, 5:50 p.m. ·
Gov. Jim Pillen said Monday that he expects people detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to start arriving at a repurposed state prison in McCook sometime this week.
Pillen announced in August that the state would enter into an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to operate an immigration detention facility at the former site of the Work Ethic Camp, a minimum-security prison in McCook. The contract between DHS and the state was signed on Sept. 20 and released publicly last month. Nebraska will be paid about $2.5 million per month to house up to 300 immigration detainees under the contract, which is set to last through 2027. The state will also receive a $5.7 million reimbursement for modifications made to the Work Ethic Camp.
Pillen had previously said he expected detainees at the facility Nov. 1, but he walked that back last week, saying there were a couple of issues that still need to be worked through.
At a news conference Monday, the governor said there will be two phases to the plan to house inmates at the repurposed WEC.
“Phase one will be up to 200 detainees, and we'll start accepting detainees this week into the McCook facility,” Pillen said. “ It'll probably take up to two to three weeks to get the first phase 200 and then the other phase has work to be done. And don't have an exact timeline, but my guess would be that it would be by the end of the year.”
An ongoing lawsuit has challenged the governor’s power to convert the state facility to house federal detainees.
Last week, Judge Patrick Heng, who represents Nebraska's 11th Judicial District, ruled against a group seeking an injunction to stop the facility from opening, but he also allowed the suit to continue to work its way through the courts.
More coverage of the McCook Work Ethic Camp
McCook facility passes inspection, ready to hold ICE detainees
Nebraska officials release details of contract to turn McCook facility into ICE detention center
McCook residents file lawsuit aimed at stopping ICE detention facility
Planned ICE facility spurs mixed reactions in McCook
Testifiers blast Pillen's plans for McCook ICE detention center
Pillen administration briefs Judiciary Committee on McCook immigration detention facility