ICE Buys $87M Warehouse In Eastern PA

UPPER BERN TOWNSHIP, PA — The federal government has purchased an $87.4 million warehouse in eastern Pennsylvania for a new, massive U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, officials confirmed.

The 527,000 square foot warehouse is located in Upper Bern Township in Berks County, on 3501 Mountain Road just off of I-78. Spotlight PA reports that the facility will house up to 1,500 beds.

It's part of a nationwide effort by ICE to massively expand its detention facilities, as 22 other properties have also been bought, according to Bloomberg, including another $120 million warehouse in nearby Tremont Township in Schuylkill County.

The Berks County warehouse, about 90 miles northwest of Philadelphia, was previously the site of a privately owned logistics center before the government bought it.

The move has outraged local officials, some of who are turning the blame on other Democrats.

State Rep. Manuel M. Guzman Jr. had previously criticized Philadelphia Democrats and district attorney Larry Krasner for "poking the bear" with inflammatory anti-ICE rhetoric, arguing that while areas like the city itself could protect itself, the immigrant population across the state is widespread.

"This is EXACTLY why I said we needed strategy, not just noise," Guzman said in a social media post Tuesday. "Y'all got your soundbites. My immigrant constituents got an ICE facility. Still think I was wrong for asking leaders to be more careful?"

The Department of Homeland Security has not commented publicly on the purchase. Patch has reached out to the agency for more information.

In some areas, it was widely publicized that ICE was targeting certain facilities, and local opposition to the moves were organized, Bloomberg reports. However, officials in Berks County were not aware of the sale until it went through.

With the latest purchases, ICE will have six facilities in the state it uses for detention, including other dedicated locations in Philadelphia and Clearfield County, as well as shared use of correctional facilities in Pike and Clinton counties.