***For Immediate Release***
April 23, 2026
Contact: Sierra Salgado Pirigyi
Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed
Office: (402) 438-8853 ext 116
sierrasp@neappleseed.org
RELEASE: Appeal filed in lawsuit over unauthorized takeover of Work Ethic Camp
The suit asserts the Governor exceeded his authority under state law
Today, Nebraska Appleseed filed an appeal in the lawsuit, Schimek v. Pillen, which seeks to halt Governor Jim Pillen’s unauthorized repurposing of Nebraska’s Work Ethic Camp into a large-scale ICE detainment camp. The lawsuit was dismissed by Red Willow County District Judge Patrick Heng last month.
Nick Grandgenett, Nebraska Appleseed’s Immigrants & Communities Sr. Staff Attorney and lead counsel for the plaintiffs issued the following statement:
“Nebraskans want welcoming communities where everyone has a sense of belonging, not large-scale detention camps.
We are disappointed with the district court’s decision to dismiss this lawsuit. Nebraska law is clear. Neither the governor nor the NDCS director have the unilateral authority to use the Work Ethic Camp for immigration detainment. We look forward to the opportunity to present this separation of powers case on appeal.”