Gov. Shapiro Vows to Block Planned ICE Detention Centers in Pennsylvania

The governor says the facilities would strain local resources and raise concerns about human rights abuses.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro says he will use 'every tool at his disposal' to stop planned ICE detention centers in Berks and Schuylkill Counties, citing concerns about the impact on local communities. Shapiro hosted a bipartisan meeting with local officials and warned that the facilities would overwhelm water, sewer, health care, and emergency services resources. The governor also expressed concerns about potential human rights abuses at the centers and said he is exploring 'a number of regulatory steps' to block their development.

Why it matters

The planned ICE detention centers have faced strong opposition from local communities in Pennsylvania, who are worried about the strain on their infrastructure and resources as well as potential human rights violations. Shapiro's vow to block the facilities using state power represents a high-profile clash between the state and federal government over immigration enforcement.

The details

Shapiro said the 7,500-bed detention center planned for Tremont Township in Schuylkill County would use up the town's entire water supply within 24 hours, requiring it to triple its water capacity. The governor warned this would leave nearby residents unable to use their kitchen sinks or flush their toilets. He also said the facilities would hurt local economies, take away health care and emergency services resources from residents, and undermine trust between law enforcement and the community. Shapiro contradicted ICE's claims that the centers would create thousands of jobs and generate tax revenue, saying they would instead 'undermine the trust in the community.'

  • Shapiro hosted the meeting with local officials on Thursday, February 27, 2026.
  • Earlier this week, Maryland's attorney general filed a lawsuit to block an ICE detention center in that state.

The players

Gov. Josh Shapiro

The governor of Pennsylvania who is vowing to use 'every tool at his disposal' to stop the planned ICE detention centers in the state.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

The federal official who received letters from Shapiro and his cabinet warning that the administration would not issue required state permits for the centers.

Christian Leinbach

A Republican Berks County commissioner who has stopped short of condemning the ICE facility but expressed frustration about the federal government's lack of transparency.

Dante Santoni

The lone Democratic Berks County commissioner who vocally opposed the ICE processing center, saying it would be harmful to the community's finances and morale.

Dan Meuser

The U.S. Representative (R-Pa.) who organized a virtual meeting between Berks County commissioners and DHS officials.

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What they’re saying

“I've taken this president to court 19 times [as governor], not lost a single case. Part of the reason why we're so successful is we don't forecast all of it ahead of time. We dot our i's, we cross our t's.”

— Gov. Josh Shapiro (newtownpanow.com)

“You go add 9,000 people to two warehouses in this region. The federal government is either going to pull away health care personnel from existing health care facilities for the community, or they're not going to be able to have the kind of health care that is needed to be able to care for those who are in those facilities.”

— Gov. Josh Shapiro (newtownpanow.com)

“I'm extremely concerned about human rights abuses that we've seen from ICE all across this country, and I do not want that coming here to Pennsylvania, which is why we're organizing and mobilizing to do everything we can to stop it.”

— Gov. Josh Shapiro (newtownpanow.com)

What’s next

Shapiro said his administration is exploring 'a number of regulatory steps' through state agencies to stop the development of the ICE detention centers in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Governor Shapiro's vow to use the full power of the state to block the planned ICE detention centers reflects growing concerns about the impact of such facilities on local communities, as well as fears about potential human rights abuses. This clash between state and federal authorities over immigration enforcement is likely to continue playing out in the courts and through regulatory actions.