THANKS, BILL. NEBRASKA GOVERNOR JIM PILLEN OFFICE SAYS HE WILL NOT BE AT A HEARING TOMORROW FOR THE SO-CALLED CORNHUSKER CLINC. THE URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE WILL TALK ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT THE MCCOOK SITE. THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE STATES THAT THE COMMITTEE DOES NOT HAVE PROPER JURISDICTION, NOR THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE TO EXAMINE THESE ISSUES. NOW, THE ICE DETENTION CENTER HAS SPARKED CONVERSATIONS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. MORE THAN 100 NEBRASKA FAITH LEADERS SIGNED A LETTER IN OPPOSITION TO THE FACILITY AHEAD OF THE HEARING. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S MADISON PERALES TALKED WITH SOME OF THE LEADERS. SHE JOINS US HERE IN STUDIO MADISON. YEAH, THE CONFERENCE HAD SIX FAITH LEADERS REPRESENT EPISCOPAL, UNITED METHODIST AND OTHER CHURCHES TO SHOW THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE MCCOOK FACILITY, SAYING IT’S GOING AGAINST THE RELIGIOUS VALUES. THEY’RE SENDING THIS LETTER TO GOVERNOR PALIN AND THE URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO RECONSIDER THE FACILITY. WE SEE THAT JESUS DID SIDE WITH THOSE WHO WERE MARGINALIZED. AND AND WE NEED TO DO THE SAME. NEBRASKA FAITH LEADERS MEET AT URBAN ABBEY THURSDAY, RUN BY FOUNDING PASTOR DEBORAH MCKNIGHT. MORE THAN 100 CLERGY THAT SIGNED ONTO THE LETTER WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR THAT OUR FAITH INVITES US TO WELCOME PEOPLE, INVITES US TO EXTEND THE TABLE RATHER THAN BUILD A WALL TO TO CREATE SAFE SPACE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS AND WITH OUR NEIGHBORS. REVEREND EDUARDO BUSSON WAS BORN IN PUERTO RICO AND MOVED TO THE STATES IN 2000. HE SAYS NEBRASKA IS LIKE HOME. THEY’RE KIND AND EMPATHETIC AND COMPASSIONATE, THOUGHTFUL. AND REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL AFFILIATION, THAT’S WHAT I FOUND IN EVERYONE HERE. NOW HE FEELS HIS HOME HAS CHANGED ITS ME. IT’S MY PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING UNJUSTLY DETAINED. MCKNIGHT SAYS THE MCCOOK FACILITY DOES NOT ALIGN WITH NEBRASKA VALUES. THAT INVESTMENT FEELS THE OPPOSITE OF NEBRASKA. NICE. AND IT ALSO FEELS THE OPPOSITE OF OUR FAITH. A FAITH AT ITS CORE THAT IS EXPANSIVE AND INCLUSIVE, AND IT IS CHALLENGING TO ESTABLISHMENT AND AUTHORITY. SHE SAYS THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY SOMETHING AMIDST THE CURRENT RELIGIOUS POLITICAL RHETORIC. THE CHRISTIAN VOICE RIGHT NOW HAS BEEN USURPED IN A DIVERSITY OF WAYS THAT I FEEL CALLED TO BE REALLY CLEAR IN OPPOSITION TO AND TO INVITE PEOPLE IN. WILL NOT BE AT THE HEARING TOMORROW, BUT MCKNIGHT MCKNIGHT WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE. WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO PILLEN ABOUT THE
Gov. Pillen announced he won’t attend McCook ICE facility hearing Friday, faith leaders show opposition of the facility
Updated: 10:19 PM CDT Sep 11, 2025
Gov. Jim Pillen will not attend the Urban Affairs Committee hearing scheduled for tomorrow, according to a statement from his office.The committee is expected to discuss concerns related to the ICE detention facility known as the “Cornhusker Clink.” In a statement, the governor’s office said the committee “does not have proper jurisdiction nor the subject matter expertise to examine these issues.”READ MORE: ‘Fit ICE’s needs well’: Sen. Ricketts backs Nebraska’s new detention facilityThe McCook detention center has sparked widespread conversation in both the Legislature and local communities. More than 100 Nebraska faith leaders have signed a letter opposing the facility ahead of the hearing.Six clergy members representing Episcopal, United Methodist, and other churches spoke Thursday at a press conference held at Urban Abbey in Omaha. The letter is being sent to both Pillen and the Urban Affairs Committee, urging reconsideration of the facility.“We see that Jesus did side with those who are marginalized and and we need to do the same,” said the Rev. Eduardo Bousson, who spoke at the conference.Urban Abbey is led by founding pastor Debra McKnight.“More than 100 clergy that signed on to the letter want to be really clear that our faith invites us to welcome people, invite us to extend the table rather than build a wall to create safe space for our neighbors and with our neighbors,” she said. Bousson, who was born in Puerto Rico and moved to the U.S. in 2000, said Nebraska has feels like home.“They’re kind and empathetic. Compassionate and thoughtful. Regardless of political affiliation, that’s what I found in everyone here,” he said.Bousson now feels that home has changed.“It’s mi gente,” he said. “It’s my people who are being unjustly detained.”McKnight said the McCook facility does not reflect Nebraska’s values.“That investment feels the opposite of Nebraska Nice. It also feels the opposite of our faith,” she said.She described her faith as “expansive and inclusive” and “challenging to establishment and authority.”McKnight also addressed the broader implications of religious-political rhetoric.“The Christian voice right now has been usurped, in a diversity of ways that, I feel called to be really clear in opposition to and to invite people in,” she said.Bousson will not attend the hearing Friday, but McKnight confirmed she will be present.KETV NewsWatch 7 reached out to Pillen regarding the faith leaders’ concerns, but has not received a response.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Gov. Jim Pillen will not attend the Urban Affairs Committee hearing scheduled for tomorrow, according to a statement from his office.
The committee is expected to discuss concerns related to the ICE detention facility known as the “Cornhusker Clink.”
In a statement, the governor’s office said the committee “does not have proper jurisdiction nor the subject matter expertise to examine these issues.”
READ MORE: ‘Fit ICE’s needs well’: Sen. Ricketts backs Nebraska’s new detention facility
The McCook detention center has sparked widespread conversation in both the Legislature and local communities.
More than 100 Nebraska faith leaders have signed a letter opposing the facility ahead of the hearing.
Six clergy members representing Episcopal, United Methodist, and other churches spoke Thursday at a press conference held at Urban Abbey in Omaha.
The letter is being sent to both Pillen and the Urban Affairs Committee, urging reconsideration of the facility.
“We see that Jesus did side with those who are marginalized and and we need to do the same,” said the Rev. Eduardo Bousson, who spoke at the conference.
Urban Abbey is led by founding pastor Debra McKnight.
“More than 100 clergy that signed on to the letter [we] want to be really clear that our faith invites us to welcome people, invite us to extend the table rather than build a wall to create safe space for our neighbors and with our neighbors,” she said.
Bousson, who was born in Puerto Rico and moved to the U.S. in 2000, said Nebraska has feels like home.
“They’re kind and empathetic. Compassionate and thoughtful. Regardless of political affiliation, that’s what I found in everyone here,” he said.
Bousson now feels that home has changed.
“It’s mi gente,” he said. “It’s my people who are being unjustly detained.”
McKnight said the McCook facility does not reflect Nebraska’s values.
“That investment feels the opposite of Nebraska Nice. It also feels the opposite of our faith,” she said.
She described her faith as “expansive and inclusive” and “challenging to establishment and authority.”
McKnight also addressed the broader implications of religious-political rhetoric.
“The Christian voice right now has been usurped, in a diversity of ways that, I feel called to be really clear in opposition to and to invite people in,” she said.
Bousson will not attend the hearing Friday, but McKnight confirmed she will be present.
KETV NewsWatch 7 reached out to Pillen regarding the faith leaders’ concerns, but has not received a response.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |