Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Thursday that he intends “to use every tool at my disposal to stop” ICE detention centers from opening in Schuylkill and Berks counties.
Shapiro spoke to the media at Berks County Agricultural Center outside Leesport on Thursday afternoon, just minutes after having a prolonged meeting with elected officials and others from both Schuylkill and Berks counties.
Joining all three Schuylkill County Commissioners during today’s meeting were State Reps. JoAnn Stehr and Jamie Barton, Schuylkill County Solicitor Shelby Hostetter, Tremont Township Solicitor Chris Riedlinger, State Sen. Dave Argall’s chief of staff Christine Verdier, and Schuylkill County Municipal Authority executive director Pat Caufield.
“I want to be very clear: I don’t want either of these sites here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said. “I am against these facilities. You know my track record of taking on this administration. And I’m going to do everything in my legal power and my regulatory power to see two of these facilities are not sited here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
On Feb. 2, deeds were recorded in both counties which saw the US government take ownership of two empty warehouses – one in Tremont Township and the other in Upper Bern Township in Berks County – that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) intends to use as a detention center (in Tremont) and processing facility (in Upper Bern).
Since then, we’ve learned mostly through third-party sources that the Tremont facility will house up to 7,500 ICE detainees and employ up to 2,500 people. After Wednesday’s Schuylkill County Commissioners meeting, Coal Region Canary further learned that ICE could possibly have the Tremont Township facility operational this Spring.
However, Shapiro said he will do whatever he can to stop that from happening, both in the Spring and ever.
“While the federal government has enormous power to place these (detention centers) across the country, I want you to know we are not powerless here,” he said. “After this meeting here today, I’m even more determined to do everything in my power to stop these facilities.”
What Shapiro Stopping the ICE Facilities Might Look Like
During Thursday’s press conference, Shapiro did not give specifics on how he plans to oppose and potentially stop ICE from operating detention and processing facilities in Schuylkill and Berks counties.
He was flanked by cabinet members representing the Departments of Environmental Protection, Labor and Industry, and Health at the press briefing today.
The governor said there are “a number of regulatory steps” his administration could take to accomplish his goal.
“I’m not going to get into specific steps we are going to take but I can assure you over the next couple weeks or so, we’ll be prepared to take them,” Shapiro said. “Stay tuned. We’re looking at any way possible to stop these facilities from coming here to Pennsylvania.”
Later, he did say that the federal government would need permit approvals from DEP and “other regulatory approvals” before ICE facilities could open but did not elaborate.
“Significant and Negative Impacts” Locally from ICE Detention Centers
Though Schuylkill County Commissioners as a whole have not come out one way or another – some have spoken individually about their thoughts on its – on the ICE detention center planned for the former Big Lots Distribution Center in Tremont Township, there has been a collective concern about the lack of available resources and infrastructure.
In addition to a letter signed by Commissioners Chairman Larry Padora outlining those concerns about water, sewer, and first responders, Schuylkill County also sent federal officials reports on available capacities from SCMA and its Office of Emergency Management detailing the resources, or lack thereof, available in the immediate are of the planned facility.
Shapiro said he and the representatives of Schuylkill and Berks counties shared a frustration about the “secrecy” ICE used to purchase the warehouses in both locations.
Further, he said that during his meeting with local officials, many of whom are Republicans, Shapiro said of the conversation during those 90 minutes, “You wouldn’t know who was the Democrat, who was the Republican. Folks were universal in expressing their concerns about this.”
“We know, for example, in Tremont, if this is built, they will literally run out of water within 24 hours. They would need to triple their capacity. The Tremont water system can’t keep up with the demand as it currently stands. There’s simply no capacity in the ground for the amount of water that would be needed,” Shapiro said.
He added if the federal government plans on trucking in fresh water, it must also plan on trucking away wastewater.
“You’re talking about then destroying our infrastructure,” Shapiro said. “This is obviously not a feasible solution.”
Shapiro also discussed the shortage of healthcare professionals in the area already.
“You add 9,000 people to two warehouses in this region, the federal government’s either going to pull away healthcare personnel from existing facilities for the community or they’re not going to be able to have the kind of healthcare that is needed to be able to care for those who are in those facilities.
The governor also expressed concern about the lack of first responders in the area to deal with the addition of thousands more people inside the detention center in Tremont Township.
Economic Development Would Suffer if ICE Facilities Go Forward
Shapiro also said he believes if the ICE facilities go forward locally, it’ll have a detrimental impact on economic development in the region.
He said the Pennsylvania has the only “growing economy” in the Northeast and has grown for 32 straight months.
“Our economy is growing. What we do not need are efforts from ICE to undermine our economic growth,” Shapiro said. “This is not what we want in our communities. We want to be able to create the kind of jobs that are going to be family-sustaining. We want to create the kind of jobs that aren’t going to undermine the trust in a community between law enforcement and the neighbors that they serve.”
ICE on a “Failed Mission”
In addition to those concerns that are shared locally regarding resources and infrastructure, the governor also took aim at President Donald Trump and Dept. of Homeland Security Sect. Kristi Noem and what he called a “failed mission” under their direction.
Previously, Shapiro wrote a sharply-worded letter to Noem expressing many of the same messages he had at Thursday’s press conference. (SEE: Shapiro Blasts ICE Detention Plans in Schuylkill, Berks Counties)
“They’re violating people’s constitutional rights all across this country,” Shapiro said Thursday. “We don’t want ICE bringing this type of havoc into our communities. Period.”
The governor said he’s “extremely concerned” about what he views as “human rights abuses” carried out by ICE agents nationwide.
“I don’t want that coming here to Pennsylvania,” he said. “We’re organizing and mobilizing to do everything we can to stop them. I think the concerns about human rights are very real.”
Shapiro touted what he sees as his track record against President Trump in court.
“As Governor, I’ve used my authority leading this Commonwealth as chief executive. I’ve taken this President to court 19 times and not lost a single case,” Shapiro said, adding that he believes he’s been as successful as he says because “We dot our Is. We cross our Ts and follow the law, unlike this administration.”
Local Reaction to Meeting with Governor Shapiro
Coal Region Canary was able to reach Commissioners Larry Padora and Gary Hess after their meeting with the Governor on Tuesday.
Hess has come out publicly saying he does not support the placement of an ICE detention center in Schuylkill County, especially in the west.
On Thursday, Hess said he hopes Shapiro is successful in somehow blocking the opening of the detention center in Tremont Township.
“I hope that he is,” Hess said. “I feel that facility is not good for the county.”
He added that his previous remark about being against the facility does not mean he supports illegal immigration. Hess clarified by saying he’s just opposed to this plan, or lack of, in Tremont Township.
“Everybody in this country needs to come the right way. This isn’t about that. I’m just totally against that building,” Hess said. “They (DHS/ICE) went out and bought these things with no plans.”
Specifically, Hess said he is concerned about the welfare of residents in western Schuylkill County. He sees the ICE detention center as “another arrow shot at them.
“I feel bad for the people out there on the western end,” he added. “I worry about the welfare of the citizens I serve.”
Padora has not come out publicly as for or against the ICE detention center in Schuylkill County. He’s consistently said he’s worried about the impact on the area and, as he reiterated on Thursday, the federal government making Schuylkill County whole for any strains it takes on because of the facility.
“I am focused solely on the impact on my county. If this facility comes to fruition in Schuylkill County, I want to make sure our tax bases are made whole, our infrastructure is protected and at no cost or rate impact to users, and all emergency management, EMS, hospital services are taken care of that they will not be negatively impacted by this facility,” Padora said.
Hess added, “I don’t want to see the county laying out any type of money for what we might have to change.”
Regarding Shapiro’s planned fight against it, Padora said that’s the Governor’s concern, not his.
“If he’s successful or not successful, that’s on the Governor of the state. I have to plan for what affects Schuylkill County,” he said.
Further, Hess said if the Governor is unsuccessful in blocking ICE from establishing a detention center in Schuylkill County, he said the agency needs to be accountable and treat detainees humanely.
“We need to have eyes on this facility if it happens and I’ll go to the end,” he said.
Regarding the economic impact the ICE detention center would have on the county, Padora said without firm answers from the federal government on how it will operate, he can’t be sure what will happen.
“Until we have answers on who they are hiring and what they are paying, how do you gauge what kind of impact that will have,” he asked.
Hess said he’s worried about potential jobs being offered by ICE drawing from already-strained employers, specifically in healthcare and law enforcement, in Schuylkill County.
FULL COVERAGE
Read all our stories on this story with impacts across the coal region by following these links, including our Topic page: ICE in Schuylkill County
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