Packed room, empty chairs at Lincoln ICE hearing

Dear Editor,

I was one of a handful of McCook residents who attended the Unicameral Urban Affairs Committee’s interim hearing concerning the Work Ethic Camp and an ICE detention center in Nebraska.

The room was packed except for the front row where a dozen chairs were assigned to those who had been invited to testify. Only the gentleman with the history and current conditions of WEC was in attendance. Chairs reserved for the Office of the Governor, various offices within the Department of Corrections, the State Fire Marshal and the City of McCook were empty.

What a missed opportunity! City leaders could have scheduled a town hall meeting to collect questions, concerns and comments from the citizens and shared them with the legislators, Nebraska’s executive branch, and the many media outlets that were in attendance.

In nearly four hours of testimony not one person spoke in favor of the ICE Detention proposal. Organizations and individuals from all corners of the state eloquently presented their prepared statements in opposition. In addition e-mails, some from McCook, were received and entered into the record making a total of 653 respondents. The lack of representation from the City of McCook seemed to indicate that there is agreement and total support of the governor’s plan for a detention center in Nebraska, specifically McCook. I believe this is far from the truth.

I am hopeful that should the Judiciary Committee schedule a hearing or when the relevant bills sure to be introduced in January are heard that members of the city council and administrative offices in McCook will be present and participating.

Sharon Bohling, McCook