A town hall brought residents and officials together to discuss how to oppose the project.
SHARTLESVILLE, Pa. — As plans move forward for a large immigration processing facility in Upper Bern Township in Berks County, residents and local leaders gathered in nearby Shartlesville for a town hall focused on how to stop the project.
The proposed facility, tied to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has drawn growing concern from the community. Attendees said the project could strain infrastructure and raise safety concerns across the region.
“What is it going to be for our water systems?” said Berks County resident Linda Alspach-Heckman. “What is it going to be for our septic system? What is it going to do for the road structures, the infrastructure of our community, with the fire, the police?”
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the facility could produce up to 225,000 gallons of sewage per day and use up to 180,000 gallons of water daily — levels some fear could overwhelm local systems.
Berks County Commissioner Dante Santoni said the proposed 1,500-person processing center could also impact public safety in Berks County and neighboring areas, including Lancaster County.
“We have a large Latino population in Reading and Berks County that are quite frankly scared, and they shouldn’t be,” Santoni said. “They shouldn’t be scared to go to work; they shouldn’t be scared to go to school. They shouldn’t be scared to go to the supermarket or to church.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection recently sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security outlining orders prohibiting operation of water systems and sewage systems at the site until proper permits are obtained. Federal officials have since requested an extension to respond with their plans.
Concerns over the project have crossed party lines. Republican Congressman Dan Meuser, who represents the area, said in a statement in February that he shares the concerns over the local infrastructure, while Governor Josh Shapiro has vowed to do everything in his power to stop the project.
Organizers at the town hall emphasized the importance of community involvement, saying local voices could influence federal decision-making.
“The biggest thing is just making sure that we are doing this together, that we’re standing up and that we’re pushing forward because there is an opportunity for us to stop this,” said Charles Corbit, with the Berks Urgent Response Network.