Another federal lawmaker has confirmed that plans to convert a pair of warehouses in Berks and Schuylkill counties into Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities have been canceled.<\/p>\n
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser issued a statement Friday revealing that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has shelved plans to open detention facilities in Upper Bern and Tremont townships. The Republican legislator represents both communities.<\/p>\n
The Pennsylvania properties were each bought by ICE earlier this year as part of a nationwide effort to convert former warehouses into detention facilities. The effort has drawn strong pushback from local communities, including in Upper Bern and Tremont where opponents had raised concerns about the potential drain on local resources and environmental impact the facilities would have.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy office has been informed directly that DHS, under the leadership of Secretary Markwayne Mullin, has advanced immigration enforcement plans that will not include the proposed detention or processing centers in Berks or Schuylkill counties,\u201d the congressman said in the statement.<\/p>\n
The Berks warehouse<\/a> in Upper Bern Township is a 527,000-square-foot building at 3501 Mountain Road purchased in late January for $87.4 million. Officials from ICE said it would be renovated to hold 1,500 people as a processing center.<\/p>\n