U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has decided to abandon its initiative of utilizing two warehouses in rural Pennsylvania for detaining a large number of individuals.
This decision follows a state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) order, which halted the plan due to issues surrounding the use of local drinking water and sewage systems. ICE was required to demonstrate compliance with state regulations on safe water and sewage management. The Associated Press reported that an ICE attorney recently submitted paperwork to rescind the agency’s appeal against this order.
Concerns were raised by state and local officials regarding the capacity of the water and wastewater infrastructure in Berks and Schuylkill counties to support the federal agency’s proposed population.
ICE has not specified any alternative plans for the warehouses.
However, in correspondence with the Pennsylvania DEP, ICE confirmed, “it will not be using this property as a detention center.” This communication, dated last week, corroborates previous announcements made by U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser and U.S. Sen. John Fetterman.
Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, stated that converting the warehouses into detention centers “would have posed serious risks to the health, safety, and infrastructure of the surrounding communities.”
ICE’s Initial Proposal
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, initially suggested accommodating up to 7,500 detainees in a 1.3 million-square-foot former Big Lots warehouse in Tremont Twp., Schuylkill County.
This was part of a broader $38 billion plan under former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, aimed at quickly expanding detention capabilities. However, this plan started to be reversed last month.
The proposed facility in Tremont Twp. would have housed a population vastly exceeding the township’s 283 residents, as recorded in the 2020 U.S. Census.
Additionally, ICE intended to establish a processing center for up to 1,500 detainees in a 520,000-square-foot warehouse in Upper Bern Twp., Berks County.
Both facilities were components of a $38.3 billion initiative to set up large-scale detention and processing centers, as well as renovate existing ones.
Noem’s acquisition strategy was largely conducted without public notice, leading to community backlash upon discovery. Her successor, Markwayne Mullin, paused further warehouse purchases shortly after taking office.
Borys Krawczeniuk
/
WVIA News
Community Concerns and Background
Local communities expressed significant opposition to the proposed detention centers.
The Washington Post reported on Christmas Eve about the proposed facility in Schuylkill County, revealing a plan from the Trump administration to convert industrial warehouses into detention centers for immigrants.
Both Schuylkill and Berks county plans faced strong resistance from residents and local officials, with worries over the ethical implications of detaining thousands of immigrants in such facilities.
In January, more than 100 residents gathered at Newtown Volunteer Fire Co. to express their concerns.
WVIA News revisited the issue in May, interviewing stakeholders and residents as part of an immigration enforcement series.
Larry Padora, Chairman of the Schuylkill County Board of Commissioners, avoided taking a stance on the detention center, citing a desire to avoid partisan political conflicts.
However, Padora voiced concerns about the potential loss of nearly $1 million in property tax revenue for the county, Pine Grove Area School District, and the township. He contacted Homeland Security and federal legislators seeking compensation and security upgrades.
By June, the New York Times reported that plans to convert these Pennsylvania sites and five others into detention centers were being shelved by the federal government.
ICE intends to sell or transfer control of warehouses located in Romulus, Mich.; Social Circle and Flowery Branch, Ga.; Salt Lake City; and Roxbury, N.J.
Reactions to the Decision
Governor Shapiro expressed on X his satisfaction at collaborating with local leaders to enforce Pennsylvania law and protect communities.
Miguel E. Andrade, of the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition, expressed the group’s relief but emphasized ongoing concerns regarding the $207 million spent on what they termed “corrupt purchases.”
Andrade urged Congress to divest from these properties and called for reinvestment in community needs such as healthcare, housing, education, and veteran support.
He also acknowledged the ongoing challenges posed by an agency with extensive funding and resources, which are unlikely to dissipate despite the decision.
***
This article includes contributions from The Associated Press and WVIA News.
