MCCOOK, Neb. — A judge announcing the plan to turn McCook’s Work Ethic Camp into an ICE detention center can move forward, at least for now.


Red Willow County District Judge Patrick Heng denied both the state’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit, and an injunction filed by a former state senator along with 13 McCook residents who want to stop the project.

The ruling means the lawsuit can continue in court, while construction on the facility can also proceed.

Nebraska Appleseed filed the lawsuit on behalf of the group, challenging Governor Jim Pillen’s plan to convert the state-run Work Ethic Camp into a facility for federal immigration detainees.

Pillen says the facility is expected to be operational by November first.