20 Nebraska Guard Volunteers To Staff McCook ICE Detention Site — DNA Swabs, Fingerprints, No Arrests

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said about 20 Nebraska National Guard members volunteered to provide administrative support at the McCook Work Ethic Camp as it’s repurposed for ICE detention. The Guard’s role will be non-law-enforcement, focused on DNA swabs, fingerprinting and similar tasks, with the site expected to come online within ~45 days. Pillen framed the move as a safety measure; critics argue state-run federal detention facilities are inhumane and part of a broader strategy to pressure migrants to self-deport. The update clarifies the volunteer status and scope of Guard involvement amid a wider detention-capacity expansion trend.