Nebraska To Expand ICE Detention Capacity With ‘Cornhusker Clink’
Nebraska is stepping directly into President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement push with the announcement of a new ICE detention facility nicknamed the “Cornhusker Clink.” Located in McCook, the facility will provide 280 additional detention beds for federal authorities, following the pattern of Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” and Indiana’s upcoming “Speedway Slammer.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem unveiled the project Wednesday, warning illegal aliens that detention is the likely outcome if they remain in the United States unlawfully. “COMING SOON to Nebraska: Cornhusker Clink,” Noem declared, thanking Governor Jim Pillen for his partnership. “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.”
Governor Pillen voiced strong support for the initiative, casting Nebraska as an active partner in the Trump administration’s law-and-order agenda. “Today the State of Nebraska is stepping up its support of President Trump’s and Secretary Noem’s immigration enforcement initiatives in several key ways,” Pillen said. “Our facility and team in McCook will help our federal partners protect our homeland by housing criminal illegal aliens roaming our country’s communities today.”
The announcement also included a broader enforcement agreement, with the Nebraska State Patrol and National Guard preparing to formally assist ICE operations inside the state. Pillen emphasized that Nebraska has been consistent on border and homeland security. “Just as when I twice deployed troops to secure our southern border during the failed Biden administration, Nebraska will continue to do its part,” he added.
The “Cornhusker Clink” represents more than just a new detention site. It signals a deepening state-federal alliance under Trump’s immigration crackdown and underscores how Republican-led states are actively taking part in building detention capacity. With the rollout of similar facilities in Florida and Indiana, Nebraska now becomes the latest stronghold in a nationwide effort to put illegal immigration on notice.