ICE Is Lying to Us — And Nebraskans Should Pay Attention

There’s a lot the public isn’t being told about how immigration enforcement really works in this country — and right here in Nebraska.

ICE regularly detains people without judicial warrants, starts deportation proceedings against longtime residents with no criminal history, and deports people to dangerous and unstable conditions abroad. In the meantime, both USCIS and ICE continue to release official government messaging that paints immigration enforcement as necessary for public safety — while masking serious due process concerns.

And this isn’t just happening on the coasts. It’s happening right here in Nebraska.

Our local jails — including in Lincoln and Omaha — cooperate with ICE, through tools like ICE detainer requests and in some cases through 287(g) agreements. This allows ICE to ask local law enforcement to hold individuals for immigration enforcement purposes — often without judicial oversight.

Here’s what that looks like in practice: ICE can issue what’s called an “administrative warrant,” signed not by a judge but by an ICE officer. Using this, ICE can take someone into detention and begin deportation proceedings — all without the kind of warrant that would be required in a typical criminal arrest.

This means individuals — including longtime Nebraska residents, people with families here, and people with no criminal history — can find themselves detained and placed in removal proceedings based solely on ICE’s determination.

The consequences of these practices can be devastating. In cases like deportations to El Salvador’s CECOT prison system, individuals deported by ICE have ended up in detention conditions internationally recognized as unsafe and abusive — with no meaningful legal recourse. These cases raise serious human rights concerns.

Due process is supposed to be a cornerstone of American law — but ICE’s practices have been repeatedly criticized in court and by legal scholars as undermining basic constitutional protections, including the right to fair hearings and freedom from unlawful detention. These aren’t theoretical debates. They are playing out in real time, in communities across Nebraska and the Midwest.

And no — this isn’t just about “dangerous criminals.” ICE has detained parents, spouses, students, and long-term members of our Nebraska communities. The idea that “if you haven’t done anything wrong, you have nothing to fear” simply does not reflect how immigration enforcement operates today.

So what should you know if you or someone you love is approached by ICE?

First — you have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status. You also have the right to speak with an attorney before answering any questions. And if ICE does not have a judicial warrant, you do not have to open your door or allow them into your home.

If you or someone you know is facing immigration detention or deportation in Nebraska, do not wait. These cases move fast, and early legal help makes a difference.