Nebraska Appleseed files lawsuit to stop ICE facility opening in McCook

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - Nebraska Appleseed announced Thursday morning that it has filed a lawsuit to prevent the repurposing of the Work Ethic Camp in McCook into an ICE detention facility.

The lawsuit was filed in Red Willow County District Court on behalf of former State Senator DiAnna Schimek and 13 residents of McCook.

The lawsuit claims that only the Nebraska Legislature has the constitutional authority to manage penal institutions. The suit also adds that the legislature is the only body who has the authority to repurpose the use of public buildings.

“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, Nebraska Appleseed’s Legal Director. “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.”

This lawsuit comes the same week as news that Governor Jim Pillen’s office denied multiple public information requests about the camp, including conversations between the state and federal governments.

The camp, which was originally announced in mid-August, is currently slated to start accepting migrant detainees on Nov. 1.

Gov. Jim Pillen’s office did not immediately respond to our request for comment.