My name is Jason, and I’m part of the Civic Engagement Team at Change.org. Our mission is to connect petition supporters with decision makers and to help foster healthy, civil engagement in our communities.

Following our outreach regarding this petition, we received the following message from the City of McCook’s Public Information Officer, Molly Smith:

“At this time, our focus remains on continuing to seek answers through appropriate channels and advocating for transparency on behalf of our community. While we are not participating in interviews or public discussions at this stage, we remain committed to keeping our residents informed as we learn more.”

This demonstrates that local officials are aware of the petition and actively engaged to seek answers. While they are not yet making public statements beyond what has been shared, they remain committed to keeping the community informed as more details become available.

Public Information Officer Smith also provided the full text of the most recent news release from the City of McCook, issued on September 8, 2025:

Local Leaders Continue to Seek Answers (September 8, 2025)

McCook, Neb. – Officials from Red Willow County, the City of McCook, and the McCook  Economic Development Corporation remain committed to transparency and community  advocacy as plans for a new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in  McCook continue to unfold. 

Since the initial announcement, local leaders have attempted to engage with representatives from the Nebraska Department of Corrections and Governor Pillen’s  office. Contact has been made with limited answers. 

Among the concerns raised by local officials are: 

1. Public Safety & Security - What security measures will protect McCook and  Red Willow county residents? Who handles safety outside the facility? Will the  State of Nebraska allocate more resources to the Red Willow County area? 
2. Community Impact - How will the facility affect local infrastructure, emergency services, and housing? What impact will this have on local schools and public  health services? 
3. Facility Operations - Will both men and women be housed? Will the footprint of  the facility be enlarged to account for additional detainees? 
4. Transportation - How will detainees be transported to and from the facility?  What type of aircraft will be used? How will the increased number of flights impact current general aviation usage?  

On Thursday, September 4, 2025, Jesse McVean, Emergency Preparedness  Coordinator for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, met with county and  city officials to discuss local concerns. During the meeting, officials posed the above  questions, which McVean committed to forwarding to the appropriate representatives at  the State of Nebraska. He also provided contact information to local leaders for follow up.

Members of the public with questions for the State of Nebraska are encouraged to  contact Dayne Urbanovsky, NDCS Director of Strategic Communications, at  dayne.urbanovsky@nebraska.gov.