Montgomery County Opposes ICE Detention Centers

County resolution bars federal immigration agents from using county property or resources for civil enforcement operations.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution on Thursday barring federal immigration agents from conducting civil enforcement operations using county-owned property or resources. The resolution cites concerns over the use of warehouses and similar industrial facilities not intended for human occupancy as detention centers, as well as the likelihood of quota-driven violations of constitutional rights and due process.

Why it matters

This resolution reflects growing local opposition to the federal government's expansion of immigration detention facilities, particularly the use of repurposed warehouses that are not suitable for housing people. It also highlights the tension between local and federal authorities over immigration enforcement policies.

The details

The resolution, which passed 2-1, included language opposing 'the use of warehouses or similar industrial facilities not intended for human occupancy as facilities to hold, jail, detain, house, or otherwise store human beings.' The Democratic commissioners cited concerns over quota-driven violations of constitutional rights and due process, while the lone Republican commissioner opposed the resolution, arguing that it referenced issues outside the county's boundaries.

  • The resolution was passed on Thursday, March 6, 2026.
  • In recent weeks, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has made purchases of warehouses in nearby Berks and Schuylkill counties with plans to transform them into immigration detention centers.

The players

Jamila H. Winder

Democratic Montgomery County Commissioner who voted in favor of the resolution.

Neil Makhija

Democratic Montgomery County Commissioner who voted in favor of the resolution and expressed concerns over the use of warehouses as detention centers.

Thomas DiBello

Republican Montgomery County Commissioner who opposed the resolution, arguing that it referenced issues outside the county's boundaries.

Donald Trump

President of the United States, whose second term in office has included a nationwide federal immigration crackdown that has led to increased funding for ICE detention centers.

Tom Wolf

Governor of Pennsylvania, who has vowed to use every legal tool at his disposal to stop the opening of new immigration detention facilities across the commonwealth.

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What they’re saying

“The detention centers that are being established in Pennsylvania would be the largest prisons in the state, and they are attempting to use warehouses, which are not meant for the … the storage of human beings, which is what this administration wants them to be.”

— Neil Makhija, Montgomery County Commissioner

“When that happens, you will see a quota-driven incentive to violate constitutional rights and due process and that will occur across Pennsylvania as a result. So we have to make sure we will not participate in this. That we will not lend our resources toward this project.”

— Neil Makhija, Montgomery County Commissioner

“I'm thankful that the governor has made clear that he will use every legal tool at his disposal to stop these detention facilities being opened across the commonwealth, and absolutely we should do the same here in Montgomery County, to ensure that none of our county properties or land are used for any such purpose.”

— Neil Makhija, Montgomery County Commissioner

What’s next

The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners will continue to monitor the situation and explore additional legal options to prevent the use of county resources for federal immigration detention operations.

The takeaway

This resolution highlights the growing tension between local and federal authorities over immigration enforcement policies, with Montgomery County taking a stand against the use of its resources for what it sees as unconstitutional and inhumane detention practices.