Senator Fetterman Slams DHS Plan to Turn Pennsylvania Warehouses into Massive ICE Detention Centers

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) is not mincing words in his latest letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. He reiterates his strong opposition to the Department of Homeland Security’s plan to transform two warehouse facilities in Schuylkill and Berks counties into sprawling Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers.

The proposed conversions would turn a warehouse in Tremont Township into a 7,500-bed detention center and another in Upper Bern Township into a 1,500-bed processing facility. These projects come with a staggering price tag of over $200 million in taxpayer dollars. But what’s more alarming to Fetterman is the lack of consultation with local and state officials before these purchases were made.

“DHS and ICE made the decision to purchase these facilities without any local input yet expect these communities to shoulder the infrastructure, public safety, sanitation, and economic burdens imposed on them,” Fetterman wrote. He points out that neither township currently has the capacity to handle the massive strain these detention centers would place on their water, sewage, electrical grids, law enforcement, emergency services, and medical facilities.

Tremont Township officials have warned that the 7,500-bed facility alone would quadruple the existing burden on their public infrastructure. On top of that, the acquisition of these warehouses would cost Schuylkill and Berks counties a combined loss of more than $1.6 million in local tax revenue each year. This loss would hit local governments and school districts hard, further undermining the region’s economic development efforts.

Fetterman demands transparency and accountability from DHS and ICE. He calls for the release of all pre-purchase documentation, including site evaluations and economic impact assessments. He also insists on a detailed impact assessment covering infrastructure, public safety, public health, economic development, and fiscal concerns. Crucially, Fetterman wants a federal commitment to cover all infrastructure upgrades and ongoing costs, plus a period of public engagement with the affected communities.

“This is wildly irresponsible,” Fetterman said of DHS’s approach. “It is outrageous to expect these communities to work with DHS without being consulted.” He has set a deadline for DHS to respond by May 14, 2026.

This episode fits into a broader pattern of the Trump administration and its successors pushing detention facilities into vulnerable communities without proper oversight or regard for local impact. The expansion of for-profit detention centers and ICE’s aggressive enforcement tactics have long been criticized for human rights violations and community harm. Fetterman’s letter signals a growing resistance to these tactics and demands for accountability.

For communities already stretched thin, the DHS’s plans represent more than just a policy dispute — they threaten the very fabric of local infrastructure and economic stability. As this fight unfolds, it will be critical to watch whether the Biden administration will heed these warnings or continue down the path of unchecked detention expansion.