No Skook Detention, a group billing itself as non-partisan, is hosting a town hall this Friday in Tremont to discuss the proposed ICE detention center nearby.
The town hall event is scheduled for 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Tremont Borough Hall, 139 Clay St.
One of the event and organization’s organizers, Brianna DelValle, of Orwigsburg, tells Coal Region Canary the aim of the town hall event this Friday is to present concerned citizens with “clear information” about the detention center, what their local representation has done and is doing, get answers to the questions they might have about it, and learn what impacts her group believes it will have on the community in both the short- and long term.
She says much of the information made public regarding the ICE detention center is only available through social media, the news media, and at Schuylkill County Commissioners meetings, which have only been held on Wednesday mornings at 10 thus far. (An evening meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday at 6 at Schuylkill County Courthouse.)
What the town hall is not, she said, is a forum to debate immigration policy.
“That’s not going to help us understand what we’re facing here,” DelValle says, adding that this event is for anyone, even if they’re supportive of the plans for the detention center.
She says the program will present an overview of the news so far on the ICE detention center proposed for the former Big Lots Distribution Center in Tremont Township. It will also go over what actions government officials have taken so far.
On Jan. 29, the US government officially took ownership of the property with plans to retrofit the warehouse into a 7,500-bed ICE detention mega-center, one of the largest in the country.
Just last week, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro took the first legal step in trying to fight its progress by ordering the Dept. of Homeland Security, Tremont Township, and Schuylkill County Municipal Authority to halt all activity at the property until proper permits for drinking water and wastewater were secured from the state’s Dept. of Environmental Protection.
In addition, the town hall will also spell out the reasons why No Skook Detention believes “the detention center is a really bad deal for us,” according to DelValle.
Chief among the concerns are the ones already raised by County officials with DHS and ICE, like public safety, water supplies, sewage treatment, and the strain on hospitals and emergency services.
“I want more attention on this issue. I feel there’s not enough awareness of the water and the safety issues,” DelValle says.
The County government as a whole, however, has not said publicly that it believes as No Skook Detention does, that the ICE detention center is a bad deal for Schuylkill County. It has sent letters and reports to DHS/ICE regarding the lost property tax revenue caused by its purchase of the property and the current states of the public water supply, the capacity of the sewage system connected to the warehouse, and the dearth emergency services in the area.
Regardless of the outcome of No Skook Detention’s campaign against the ICE detention center, DelValle wants to use Friday’s event, at the very least, as a means of calling attention to emergency services and their needs. Attendees will learn how they can donate their money and time to volunteer fire services and local emergency medical services, too.
DelValle says local elected officials have been invited to attend the town hall to discuss their actions and address public concerns.
Armed with this information, DelValle also wants to let town hall attendees know what power they and their local representation have right now. Specifically, she wants people to come away from Friday with a newfound ability to communicate with public officials and how to be specific in addressing concerns.
“I think political pressure matters,” she says. “The main point is explaining to people what’s happening, what can the state do and what can’t the state do … understanding what’s in the scope of the Township, what’s in the scope of the Commissioners.”
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Debbie
March 9, 2026 at 10:05 am
As presented here on Coal Region Canary, hundreds of jobs are leaving Schuylkill County. Opportunities for good, well paying jobs are lacking in Schuylkill County. The prisons provide hundreds of jobs in Schuylkill County. ICE facilities would do the same to boost the economy of small towns like Tremont and the west end of Schuylkill County. Is Brianna Dellville representing NO SKOOK DETENTION, from Orwigsburg, a non partisan? Lets find out what affiliations she has first. Why does she feel the need to “inform” citizens? Who elected her? We already have elected officials informing citizens of Schuylkill County. Even the Tremont Borough is taking a “witness” position. Who is Brianna Dellville who refuses to talk about illegal immigration crime in Schuylkill County?
Debbie
March 9, 2026 at 10:21 am
Per public records: Brianna Delvalle, lives in a $238,200 property assessed corner home at 218 North Warren Street, Orwigsburg.
Debbie
March 9, 2026 at 10:51 am
Another name associated with Brianna Delvalle, per public records, is Lara Wiscount, age 57, fellow organizer and protester of the ICE facility(s). Lara is from New Jersey, now living on Spring Street in Tremont.
Debbie
March 9, 2026 at 11:00 am
Per news media, the Schuylkill County Democrat Association has no affiliation with NO SKOOK DETENTION people other than advertising their protests and organizing intentions.