The state's Work Ethic Camp in McCook, Neb., has become a detention center for migrants facing deportation proceedings. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s McCook prison for federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees is now operational, with the first migrants having arrived this week, Gov. Jim Pillen confirmed on Thursday.

Pillen said he expects the first phase of about 200 beds to be full by Thanksgiving “as detainees are coming in each day.” He said the facility, used previously as the state’s Work Ethic Camp for men, continues to be renovated for a second phase of about 100 additional ICE detainees and will include adult men and women.

“There is work that just got approved for the bid with the federal government, and I would expect that the second phas

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