Governor Josh Shapiro held a high-stakes press conference in Berks County on Thursday, February 26, pledging to use "every tool at his disposal" to stop the Trump administration from converting two Pennsylvania warehouses into massive immigration detention centers. The announcement came immediately after a bipartisan meeting with local officials from Berks and Schuylkill counties, who expressed universal concern over the potential strain on local resources. The federal government recently finalized the $87.4 million purchase of a warehouse in Upper Bern Township, Berks County, and a second facility in Tremont Township, Schuylkill County, which together could house up to 9,000 detainees.
The governor’s most pointed warning focused on the Schuylkill County site, noting that the Tremont water system currently serves only about 700 households. Shapiro stated that the proposed 7,500-bed facility would require the system to triple its capacity overnight, warning that the community would "literally run out of water within 24 hours" of the center opening. He argued that the influx of detainees would prevent nearby homeowners from being able to perform basic tasks like flushing toilets or filling a pot of water. Beyond utility concerns, Shapiro highlighted the "secrecy" of the federal purchases, which bypassed local input, and warned that the facilities would overwhelm already strained local healthcare and emergency services. While he did not detail his specific legal strategy, Shapiro emphasized his administration’s 19-0 court record against the federal government and assured residents he is preparing "regulatory steps" to prevent the projects from moving forward.