The Work Ethic Camp in McCook, Nebraska, has undergone a significant transformation, shifting from a rehabilitation facility for nonviolent offenders to a 300-bed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center. This change, announced in the fall of 2023, aligns with President Donald Trump’s intensified efforts to address illegal immigration.
For over two decades, the Work Ethic Camp functioned as Nebraska’s only state prison dedicated solely to rehabilitation. Inmates at this minimum-security facility actively engaged with the local community by participating in various activities, such as road paving, maintaining cemeteries, and attending classes at the local community college. This summer, an art gallery even showcased works from 13 inmates, highlighting the facility’s focus on reintegration into society.
The transition to an ICE detention center has stirred mixed reactions in McCook, a town of approximately 7,500 residents that largely supported Trump in the 2016 election. Some residents have expressed disappointment, appreciating the previous role of the prison as a supportive environment that helped individuals reintegrate into society. They valued its community connections and the sense of purpose it provided to inmates.
Conversely, other community members welcome the new ICE facility, viewing it as a means to contribute to Trump’s immigration policy. Supporters anticipate that the center may create between 50 to 60 jobs, potentially benefiting the local economy.
Despite these varying opinions, the decision to repurpose the facility has sparked frustration among some residents. Critics argue that the governor’s unilateral decision to convert the Work Ethic Camp into a detention center for immigrants was made without adequate public consultation. City officials have raised concerns about the implications of transporting hundreds of detainees through McCook’s small airport, which currently operates with only one full-time employee.
The closure of the Work Ethic Camp marks a significant shift in the approach to criminal justice and immigration enforcement in Nebraska. As the town grapples with the implications of this change, the community is left to navigate the delicate balance between supporting national policies and maintaining local values of rehabilitation and reintegration.
Overall, McCook stands at a crossroads, with its identity and community values challenged by the new direction of a facility that once focused on second chances. The transformation from the Work Ethic Camp to the “Cornhusker Clink” underscores a broader national dialogue on immigration and criminal justice reform, raising questions about the future of rehabilitation in the face of federal policies.
