MCCOOK, Neb. — A lawsuit filed on October 15, 2025, in Red Willow County District Court aims to prevent the conversion of Nebraska's Work Ethic Camp in McCook into a federal immigration detention facility. The plaintiffs include former State Senator DiAnna Schimek and 13 McCook residents: Catherine McDowell, Dale Dueland, Jon Graff, Linda Graff, Matt Sehnert, Mary Dueland, Peter Mark Graff, Ronda Graff, Will Branham, Bruce Hoffman, Kaye Beick, Connie Haller, and Bruce McDowell.
Filed by Nebraska Appleseed, the 24-page complaint argues that Governor Jim Pillen’s plan oversteps constitutional authority by bypassing the Nebraska Legislature. The lawsuit names Governor Pillen and Nebraska Department of Correctional Services Director Rob Jeffreys as defendants. The plaintiffs contend that only the Legislature has the power to manage and repurpose state-owned penal institutions.
“Nebraska state law is clear: The governor does not have the unilateral authority to change the purpose of any public building. That’s the Legislature’s job,” said Robert McEwen, Legal Director of Nebraska Appleseed. “Our clients have expressed concern about the lack of transparency in making this decision and the many ways that replacing the Work Ethic Camp will cause harm to their community, including the loss of valuable services carried out by incarcerated men in the Work Ethic Camp.”
The Work Ethic Camp, established in 2001, is Nebraska’s only minimum-security rehabilitation facility of its kind. Inmates participate in community-based programs and work projects designed to teach job skills, foster rehabilitation, and maintain ties to the community. The lawsuit argues that converting the facility into an ICE detention center would disrupt these programs and negatively affect McCook residents who benefit from inmate labor and community services.
Governor Pillen announced the plan in August 2025, with the Trump administration branding it the “Cornhusker Clink.” The facility is expected to house up to 280 low- to medium-risk ICE detainees and to begin operations on November 1, 2025. Nebraska will continue to own and operate the facility, while the federal government reimburses the state for housing costs. According to information confirmed by a family member of a Work Ethic Camp employee, staff are continuing to work and train to meet ICE standards, remaining on payroll during the ongoing lawsuit and facility transition.
A hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled for October 24, 2025. The plaintiffs are seeking both a temporary restraining order and a permanent injunction to halt the conversion. Depending on the outcome, the McCook ICE facility could face delays, operational restrictions, or cancellation, leaving questions about the future of the Work Ethic Camp and its programs unresolved.
As the November 1 opening date approaches, the facility remains at the center of a legal, political, and community debate, highlighting the tension between state and federal priorities, local input, and the enforcement of immigration policy in Nebraska.