Commissioners, residents raise fiscal and infrastructure concerns about proposed ICE processing center in Upper Bern Township

Berks County Commissioners discussed the proposed ICE processing center in Upper Bern Township during their March 24 meeting, with commissioners and residents raising questions about fiscal impacts, local infrastructure and oversight.

Commissioner Leinbach (speaker 2) said he is "not anti ICE" and "not anti law enforcement," but outlined concerns about the facility's effects on nearby communities. He told county leaders he had spoken with U.S. Rep. Muser and is seeking a focused call with Upper Bern officials, the Hamburg School District and county staff to review specifics. "My concerns around the facility for Upper Burn Township are the impacts on the community, the financial impacts over almost $828,000 of lost taxes annually between Upper Burn, Hamburg, and the County Of Berks," he said, citing a county estimate of annual tax losses tied to the proposal.

Leinbach also raised infrastructure and public-safety questions: the site lacks public water and relies on a small sewer plant, the area relies on state police for law enforcement and has a single volunteer fire company. He said the county had asked DHS for tiered emergency-response requirements and would request a written agreement from DHS/ICE detailing terms so county officials could review them. "The other side that both counties have requested is the right of the county to have access to the facility to ensure humane, treatment," Leinbach said, adding he wanted any proposals in writing.

Public commenters expressed opposition. Lisa Gallagher (Spring Township) said she was "greatly concerned about the warehouse in Berks County," saying the human-safety dimension was as important as fiscal losses and warning that an ICE presence could increase detentions in the immediate area. "If this warehouse opens in November or December of this year, that will also bring ICE to our streets," Gallagher said during the board's online comment readaloud. Another commenter, Agnes Tillis (Reading), thanked the commissioners for their attention.

Commissioner Leinbach said the county does not yet have written agreements and that he had asked Representative Muser to organize a meeting focused solely on the Upper Bern proposal. He said the county and neighboring Schuylkill County were coordinating to ensure clarity on the different proposed facilities and their scales.

Board members did not take formal action on the proposal at the meeting; Leinbach said the county would seek written proposals and additional conversations with federal and local officials before any decision.