Loren Lippincott
In the wake of the immediate success of Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” — the migrant detention and deportation facility built earlier this year in the Everglades — a similar facility is being planned for Nebraska, dubbed the “Cornhusker Clink.” The plan announced in August by Gov. Jim Pillen is to convert an existing minimum-security prison work camp in McCook to a facility that would hold 200 detainees initially, with potential to expand to 300. Of course there has been no shortage of controversy regarding the proposal, so let’s look at why such facilities are vital to public safety and our national interests.
In an era of emotional debates over immigration policy there’s one principle on which we all should agree: the deportation of illegal immigrants who have committed crimes — whether here or in their home countries — is essential. For safeguarding national security, upholding the rule of law, protecting public safety and preserving our economic resources, these individuals must be sent back where they came from. Often referred to as “criminal aliens” by federal agencies, these individuals represent a subset of the undocumented population that poses verifiable risks.
First, deporting lawbreakers enhances public safety by removing those who have demonstrated a propensity for criminal behavior. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prioritizes the arrest and removal of aliens who threaten national security or public safety, as outlined in their operational statistics. In fiscal years 2021-2024, 79 percent of ICE’s interior deportations involved immigrants who had come into contact with the criminal justice system. Criminal aliens, including those convicted of violent offenses, drug trafficking or gang-related activities, drain law enforcement resources and endanger communities. A 1995 congressional report highlighted criminal aliens as a “growing threat to public safety” and a strain on criminal justice systems, noting their impact on overcrowded prisons and strained budgets.
Secondly, public opinion strongly supports this approach. A recent poll found the vast majority of Americans favor deporting immigrants convicted of violent crimes. Failing to deport such individuals puts American citizens in danger of being victimized by them. Foreign nationals who unlawfully enter the U.S. are already criminals by definition, so if they commit additional crimes they should be deported ASAP.
Moreover, deportation upholds the rule of law, which is foundational to any sovereign nation. Allowing lawbreakers to remain here sends a dangerous message that our borders are meaningless and laws are optional, which erodes national sovereignty.
Furthermore, deportation honors those legal immigrants who have followed proper channels in coming to this country. In cases where home countries refuse to repatriate their citizens, thirdcountry removals become necessary to ensure consequences for heinous acts. This is not xenophobia; it’s about maintaining order. As one analysis notes, unchecked migration has historically contributed to the collapse of empires like Rome through cultural erosion and resource overload, making deportation a safeguard against similar fates. Prioritizing the deportation of hard-core criminal illegals, such as murderers and pedophiles, shifts the cultural acceptance of illegal immigration and focuses our limited resources where they yield the most impact.
While conducting deportations is expensive, deporting criminal aliens is far more cost-effective in the long term than indefinite detention or simply allowing them to remain. While mass deportations of non-criminal undocumented individuals could cost billions — estimates suggest up to $1 trillion for large-scale operations — the targeted removal of lawbreakers saves taxpayers from the ongoing expenses of incarceration, welfare and social services (not to mention the societal costs of allowing them to remain free to harm others). ICE’s enforcement sweeps, which recently arrested child abusers, fentanyl traffickers and murderers, demonstrate that deportations reduce the fiscal burden of housing these individuals in U.S. prisons, where costs can exceed $3 billion annually for immigration detention alone.
Deporting illegal immigrants who are lawbreakers is vital for protecting citizens, enforcing laws and managing resources wisely. It resists the chaos of open borders promoted by globalist interests and restores faith in a system that rewards virtue and punishes evildoers. By focusing on criminals, deportation serves as a deterrent to criminal activity and promotes American sovereignty. Neglecting this duty invites further misbehavior, but decisive action ensures a safer, more orderly nation for all.
Loren Lippincott represents Legislative District 34 in the Nebraska State Senate. Read his column in the Nance County Journal.