OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Following Tuesday's announcement of a new ICE detention facility opening in Nebraska, leaders in the immigrant community say they know there's no stopping that facility from opening, but they will be holding local leaders accountable for protecting neighbors' civil rights.
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Gov. Jim Pillen says turning a state prison into an ICE detention center will make Nebraska safer. But local Latino advocates have questions.
"These people are threats to our community and we need to have them removed," Pillen said.
Rosa La Puente-Gomez, a community leader advocating for immigrants with Pase La Voz, worries ICE may detain innocent people.
"We don't want anybody that came here to this beautiful country to be doing the wrong things. We want them out as well," La Puente-Gomez said.
However, she emphasized that constitutional protections apply to everyone.
"Our constitution says they do. So, regardless of how you came into the United States, we all have those human or civil rights," La Puente-Gomez said.
Pillen focused on safety and the importance of keeping cartel and gang members off the streets. Yet. he said the people being brought to McCook will pose low-to-minimum risk.
"Low-to-minimum means they're not murderers. But they are creating — they are a risk and threat to our communities, they're here illegally and they've come in, in the last four years," he said.
Saul Lopez works directly with immigrants in Omaha and expressed concerns about profiling.
"The problem is our community has been singled out. And we are being profiled at all times," Lopez said.
Pase La Voz plans to be a watchdog, ensuring those detained by ICE are treated humanely.
A STATEMENT FROM LULAC NEBRASKA RELEASED ON WEDESDAY:
LULAC of Nebraska calls on Governor Pillen to hold a meeting to discuss the ICE Detention Center in McCook.
We have seen increased immigration-related issues in Omaha with the recent is the recent increase in immigration enforcement actions, including workplace raids and the planned opening of a new detention center. These actions have sparked protests and raised concerns among immigrant communities and their allies about the impact on families and the local economy.
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