Our concerns
The Department of Homeland Security quietly purchased an industrial warehouse in Upper Bern Township near Hamburg with plans to convert it into an ICE detention center for up to 1,500 people for a limited time. They also purchased a warehouse in Schuylkill County near Tremont to imprison 7,500 people without a time limit!
There was no public notice, no consultation, and no opportunity for community input. That lack of transparency is a continuation of the extensively documented history of neglect and abuse in ICE’s existing detention system.
Berks Countians oppose the development of an ICE detention center for many reasons. We may not agree on everything, but we are united in this: we do not want ICE detention in Berks County.
• The school district, township and county would lose significant tax revenue because DHS is exempt from local property taxes.
• The facility would strain local infrastructure—water, sewer, electricity, and transportation—while lowering nearby property values.
• DHS and ICE operate with limited transparency and accountability. Our community deserves to know what is happening in our own backyard.
• An ICE presence would disrupt neighborhood stability, undermine public safety, and create fear among many of our friends, families, and neighbors.
Join hundreds of Berks Countians who are standing up for transparency, accountability, and community safety. Sign the petition and say NO to ICE detention in Berks County.
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