Residents Outraged Over Planned ICE Detention Center in Berks County

Upper Bern Township residents across the political spectrum voice concerns over lack of transparency and potential impact on local resources

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Residents of Upper Bern Township in Berks County, Pennsylvania are angered by the Trump administration's $87.4 million purchase of an empty warehouse to use as an immigration detention center. Local leaders, including Democrats and Republicans, have criticized the move, citing concerns over a lack of transparency, the potential strain on local infrastructure, and the damage it could do to the tax base. Residents are exploring options to block or slow down the plan, including through the permitting process, town halls, and contacting representatives.

Why it matters

The planned detention center has become a bipartisan issue in the small township, with residents across the political spectrum voicing concerns. The rapid expansion of the township's population by up to 1,500 detainees could overwhelm local resources and infrastructure, while also potentially damaging the tax base and hurting small businesses that have already struggled in recent years.

The details

The Trump administration purchased a $87.4 million empty warehouse in Upper Bern Township to use as an immigration detention center, which could have up to 1,500 beds. Residents and local leaders, including Democrats and Republicans, have criticized the lack of transparency around the plan and the potential impact on the township's resources and economy. The township has a population of less than 2,000 people, and the detention center could rapidly expand the population, potentially overwhelming local infrastructure like water, sewage, and roads. The township has already lost several small businesses that attracted tourists and interstate travelers in recent decades.

  • The Trump administration purchased the warehouse in February 2026.

The players

Cindy Rightmyer

A precinct committee chair with the Berks County Democratic Committee who is encouraging residents to get involved and voice their concerns.

Debra Fisher

A member of the township's zoning board who is concerned about the potential impact on water, sewage, and nearby wetlands.

Josh Shapiro

The Democratic Governor of Pennsylvania who has criticized the plan and said options to block it are "fairly slim" since the federal government is the purchaser.

John Fetterman

The Democratic U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania who has also criticized the plan and expressed concern about the potential strain on local resources.

Christian Leinbach

The Republican Berks County Commissioner who has publicly expressed concern about the detention center overwhelming local resources.

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What they’re saying

“Drive around, and the one sign you'll see is 'No Warehouses,' and that's probably the consistent sign. And it's not political — it just says no warehouse.”

— Cindy Rightmyer, Precinct committee chair, Berks County Democratic Committee (Spotlight PA)

“It is a bipartisan issue. It doesn't matter your affiliation. If you live here, you're going to have to deal with it.”

— Debra Fisher, Member, Upper Bern Township Zoning Board (Spotlight PA)

“Hopefully, the local government, who will likely have some permitting power here, hopefully they don't approve these permits, they don't allow the federal government to build this facility, and we're going to be working closely with our local partners on that front to see if it can be stopped.”

— Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania (Spotlight PA)

“Who wants, even if it was done in plain view and transparency, who wants a detention center in their backyard? Nobody does, even if it's just a normal prison. Take away the political implications of it. No one wants a prison, a detention center, in their backyard.”

— Ted Perezous, Owner and manager, Blue Mountain Family Restaurant (Spotlight PA)

“As a neighbor, as a resident of the township, we don't have the capacity to deal with this. We're all in favor of criminals coming off the streets, but when they're coming to arrest a neighbor whose skin is a little darker than mine? This isn't the America I grew up in.”

— Estella Lamey, Resident, Upper Bern Township (Spotlight PA)

What’s next

The township's zoning board will likely play a key role in determining whether the detention center can be built, as they will have permitting power. Residents and local leaders are exploring options to block or slow down the plan, including through the permitting process, town halls, and contacting representatives.

The takeaway

The planned ICE detention center in Upper Bern Township has become a unifying issue across the political spectrum, with residents and local leaders voicing concerns over the lack of transparency, the potential strain on local resources, and the damage it could do to the township's economy. The case highlights the challenges communities can face when the federal government seeks to establish controversial facilities, and the importance of local voices in pushing back against such plans.