Nebraska State senators on Monday will have the ability to tour the McCook Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, following a senator’s complaint.
Earlier this week Senator Machaela Cavanaugh announced she was considering a lawsuit after she was denied entry to the facility. State law allows members of the legislature to visit any facility in the Department of Corrections services at any time.
Cavanaugh said Thursday a tour has been arranged for Monday.
Laura Strimple, a spokesperson for Governor Jim Pillen, said the facility will be open to any senator who completes the required federal paperwork.
Even though state officials are declining to say how many people are being held at the detention center, the New York Times reported that November’s average was 28.
In early November Governor Pillen said he expected about 200 detainees to arrive at the facility by Thanksgiving.
A spokesperson for the state’s Department of Correctional Services said at the request of federal partners they are not giving out numbers due to security and safety purposes, but that the number was significantly higher than reported by the Times.
When asked about the situation Wednesday, Governor Pillen told Nebraska Public Media they were concentrating on keeping the state safe and not focused on the number.
