In a letter to Dept. of Homeland Security Sect. Kristi Noem, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro blasts the purchase of warehouses in Schuylkill and Berks counties to turn them into ICE detention and processing centers.
He also says his administration will “aggressively” pursue options to stop ICE’s plans here.
On Feb. 2, deeds were recorded in Schuylkill and Berks counties that completed purchases by the US government of empty warehouses in Tremont and Upper Bern townships. The intent is to turn those buildings into ICE facilities, part of the Trump administration’s plans to combat illegal immigration and deport the criminals among them.
Shapiro says “These facility will jeopardize the health and safety of Pennsylvanians who live nearby, overburden local infrastructure and emergency response personnel , and deprive the communities of important tax revenue.”
The Governor is sharply critical of DHS for failing to “engage state or local leaders about any of these very real concerns, disregarding how your plans will harm the people who live near them.”
With regard to the Tremont Township ICE detention center – which will hold up to 7,500 detainees in the former Big Lots Distribution Center – Shapiro says the local water supply is strained.
He says, “These communities currently depend on emergency water supplies, brought in on tanker trucks, to provide the water local residents need to drink, to showers, and for other necessities of daily life.”
Shapiro said the ICE detention center in Schuylkill County would use 800,000 gallons of water per day.
“This could drain the community’s reservoir in a single day, leaving taps empty and homes and lives at risk in case of fire,” Shapiro claims.
He adds that the ICE detention center in Tremont Township would strain emergency responders in the area and cut property tax revenue.
“I strongly urge you to reconsider the conversion of these two sites. Should you choose to go forward, you would be violating the rights of Pennsylvanians, increasing utility costs, harming our economy, and making us less safe,” Shapiro writes. “If you press ahead, my Administration will aggressively pursue every option to prevent these facilities from opening and needlessly harming the good people of Pennsylvania.”
Shapiro also uses his letter to express his dissatisfaction, to put it lightly, with Noem and DHS’ enforcement actions. He says he is “horrified and saddened by the scenes unfolding across our country.”
“Your agency is indiscriminately stopping and detaining record numbers of people, including children, based on the flimsiest of justifications and without any legal basis,” Shapiro claims in his letter. “Your Department’s record is reason enough to oppose your plan to use warehouses in Schuylkill and Berks counties as detention centers.”
In an accompanying letter from the Shapiro administration, state cabinet officials warn Noem that the plans for ICE facilities in Schuylkill and Berks counties must comply with DEP regulations on drinking water and building codes and underscores the strain on local resources, including emergency personnel.
FULL COVERAGE
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Joe
February 13, 2026 at 10:37 pm
President Trump was given a mandate by the voters to cleanup what Biden and the Democrats did. Biden, when he was elected president, swore to Protect and Defend the Constitution of the United States. Biden and the democrats opened our Borders and illegals walked and was even flown in by Biden and his administration into our Country. Countries opened their prisons, murderers, rapist, child molesters, gang members and yes terrorists entered the United States. Up to 20 million illegals entered our Country hurting our economy and making Americans less safe. And why ? VOTES.
Remember this when you vote on November 3, 2026.
Debbie
February 13, 2026 at 11:08 pm
What a hypocrit Shapiro is being the law enforcement Czar yet going against Federal Law.
Is it true Tremont gets water trucked in to meet its daily needs like Shapiro claims?