On August 20, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unveiled its latest move in a sweeping national campaign to expand immigration detention capacity: the opening of a new facility in McCook, Nebraska, dubbed the “Cornhusker Clink.” This announcement marks yet another step in President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to ramp up deportation enforcement and detain more migrants awaiting removal from the United States. The facility, set in the southwest corner of Nebraska, is the product of a partnership between federal immigration authorities and the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, and it’s drawing national attention for both its scale and the political symbolism attached to it.
The “Cornhusker Clink” takes its name from Nebraska’s state nickname and follows a recent trend of giving migrant detention centers regionally flavored monikers—joining Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” and Indiana’s “Speedway Slammer.” According to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the McCook facility will add 280 new beds, significantly boosting Nebraska’s capacity to detain what the administration refers to as “criminal illegal aliens” arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The expansion comes at a moment when ICE facilities across the country are reportedly “bursting at the seams,” with more than 56,000 migrants in custody as of June 2025—the highest number since 2019, according to reporting by Daily Mail.
“Today, we’re announcing a new partnership with the state of Nebraska to expand detention bed space by 280 beds,” Secretary Noem declared in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter). She continued, “Thanks to Governor Pillen for his partnership to help remove the worst of the worst out of our country. 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.” The DHS official X account later amplified her message with an AI-generated image depicting corn husks wearing ICE hats, set against a prison-like cornfield—an image that quickly went viral and sparked debate about the administration’s messaging tactics.
The facility itself is an expansion of the existing minimum-security Work Ethic Camp in McCook, about 210 miles west of Lincoln. While the site currently houses up to 200 people, renovations and retrofitting will allow it to accommodate as many as 300 detainees. The proximity to a regional airport, as noted by Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, is expected to facilitate the transfer and processing of detainees by federal authorities. “This is about keeping Nebraskans – and Americans across our country – safe,” Pillen said during the announcement. He added, “I am pleased that our facility and team in McCook can be tasked with helping our federal partners protect our homeland by housing criminal illegal aliens roaming our country’s communities today.”
Governor Pillen also revealed that the Nebraska National Guard will be stepping in to provide administrative and logistical support for ICE operations at the facility. About 20 Army National Guard soldiers are set to begin training next week, and the Nebraska State Patrol has agreed to assist ICE in arresting criminal immigrants. “Homeland security starts at home, and, just as when I twice deployed troops to secure our southern border during the failed Biden administration, Nebraska will continue to do its part,” Pillen stated, a clear nod to the ongoing political battle over immigration enforcement.
The announcement of the Cornhusker Clink comes on the heels of several other high-profile detention center openings. In July, DHS inaugurated “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Florida Everglades, a sprawling facility capable of holding more than 3,000 migrants. President Trump himself toured the site at its opening, flanked by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Secretary Noem. Trump was quoted as saying the new facility “might be as good as the real Alcatraz.” However, the Florida center has not been without controversy: U.S. District Judge Kathleen Mary Williams issued a temporary restraining order in early August after hearing testimony about its environmental impact. While the facility remains operational, further construction is paused for at least two weeks as the legal process unfolds.
Meanwhile, Indiana’s “Speedway Slammer”—named for its proximity to the famed Indianapolis 500 racetrack—opened earlier this month in Miami County, providing an additional 1,000 beds for ICE detainees. Indiana Governor Mike Braun expressed pride in the state’s “innovative partnership” with the Trump administration and DHS. “Indiana is taking a comprehensive and collaborative approach to combating illegal immigration and will continue to lead the way among states,” Braun said, as reported by Border Report.
The rapid expansion of detention capacity is being fueled by the recently passed “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” a multi-trillion-dollar legislative package that includes billions earmarked for deportation enforcement and the creation of up to 80,000 new beds for ICE. DHS officials have indicated that the Nebraska facility is only one piece of a much larger puzzle, with additional centers planned or already under construction in other states. The East Montana Detention Center at Fort Bliss, outside El Paso, Texas, opened on August 17 and already houses 1,000 people, with plans to expand to 5,000. Senator John Cornyn, during a recent visit, dubbed it the “Lone Star Lockup.”
While the administration touts these efforts as crucial to national security and public safety, the expansion has not been without criticism and concern. Civil rights groups, environmental advocates, and some local residents have raised questions about the humanitarian and ecological impacts of large-scale detention, as well as the transparency of the site selection and construction processes. Additionally, the use of state resources—such as the National Guard and state patrol officers—to support federal immigration enforcement has sparked debate in Nebraska and beyond about the appropriate role of state governments in federal policy initiatives.
Despite these controversies, the Trump administration and its state partners remain steadfast in their messaging. “Nebraska will continue to do its part,” Governor Pillen reiterated, emphasizing that the state’s involvement is about “helping our federal partners protect our homeland.” Secretary Noem echoed this sentiment, thanking Nebraska for “stepping up” and warning that those in the country illegally “could find [themselves] in Nebraska’s Cornhusker Clink.”
As the national conversation around immigration intensifies, the Cornhusker Clink stands as both a symbol and a practical outgrowth of the current administration’s approach. Whether it will deliver on its promises of safety and security—or provoke further debate and legal challenges—remains to be seen. For now, Nebraska’s newest facility is poised to play a central role in a rapidly evolving landscape of immigration enforcement in the United States.
