(The Center Square) \u2013 As the discussion continues about proposed ICE detention centers in Berks and Schuylkill counties, several elected officials in Pennsylvania have expressed direct opposition, while some say they are waiting for more information before taking a definitive position.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In February, Gov. Josh Shapiro\u00a0said during a meeting with local officials that<\/a> he would \u201cdo everything in his legal and regulatory power\u201d to keep the facilities out of the commonwealth.\u00a0<\/p>\n Earlier that same month, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., penned a letter<\/a> to the Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, expressing his \u201cdeep concern and opposition<\/a>\u201d to the plan after the agency purchased the two warehouses to turn into detention centers.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhile I have been clear in my support for the enforcement of federal immigration law, this decision will do significant damage to these local tax bases, set back decades-long efforts to boost economic development, and place undue burdens on limited existing infrastructure in these communities,\u201d Fetterman wrote.<\/p>\n In that same letter, Fetterman requested that DHS and ICE provide \u201ca briefing for his office on the criteria used to select viable properties for conversion into detention centers, including specific details on the decision to purchase the Tremont and Upper Bern Township properties; a detailed impact assessment addressing infrastructure, public safety, public health, economic development, and fiscal concerns for these communities; a commitment that federal funds will cover all necessary infrastructure upgrades and ongoing costs associated with these facilities; and a commitment to a period of public engagement and dialogue with these communities.\u201d<\/p>\n Republican elected officials have largely struck a different tone regarding the proposed detention centers.<\/p>\n U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., told the Center Square on Tuesday that he\u2019s been in touch with citizens in the region, some of whom support and some of whom oppose.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMy view on this is we have to look at those in the totality of the economic opportunity and what it brings to those communities,\u201d McCormick said. \u201cAnd I also think that the communities are appropriately going to have a discussion about those pros and cons.\u201d<\/p>\n He told the Center Square that he hasn\u2019t taken a formal position on it as he\u2019s still gathering more information. When pressed about what he\u2019s heard more from people \u2013 opposition or support \u2013 he said \u201cit\u2019s hard to tell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I understand the Department of Homeland Security has said they have taken steps to move forward on that,\u201d he said. \u201cCongressman (Dan) Meuser and others have been in touch to make sure that some of the questions brought about by the communities have been addressed, but I haven\u2019t taken a formal position on it.\u201d<\/p>\n Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser represents the district where the two facilities could be located.<\/p>\n The Shamokin\u00a0<\/a>News-Item\u00a0<\/a>reported\u00a0on March 30 that Meuser\u2019s office, in his first formal public statement since the purchases of the facilities were finalized, said that DHS has \u201ccommitted to preventing disruption and improving Schuylkill and Berks counties as it makes plans to operate two ICE detention processing facilities in both counties.\u201d<\/p>\n The two facilities, located in Tremont Township and Upper Bern Township, were purchased by DHS in February. Fetterman\u2019s office<\/a>\u00a0said the proposal from DHS would convert the facilities into 7,500 and 1,500-bed detention centers, respectively.<\/p>\n