The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has purchased a substantial warehouse in Berks County, Pennsylvania, as part of an initiative to expand immigration detention facilities across the country. The nearly 520,000-square-foot property, located at 3501 Mountain Road in Upper Bern Township, was acquired for $87.4 million, according to deed records finalized on February 2, 2024.
The site, formerly known as the Hamburg Logistics Center, is positioned approximately one mile from Interstate 78 and is adjacent to an Amazon warehouse and the Mountain Springs Camping Resort. It is designed to accommodate up to 1,500 beds for detainees, marking it as one of at least 23 facilities ICE plans to repurpose for immigration detention.
A recent visit to the warehouse by Spotlight PA revealed individuals touring the site, including one person who identified himself as an employee of ICE. Further developments include ICE’s recent acquisition of another warehouse in Tremont Township, Schuylkill County, which has received pushback from local residents due to its proximity to a daycare center.
Despite inquiries, a spokesperson for ICE did not provide details regarding the Berks County purchase but emphasized the agency’s focus on removing “vicious criminals” from communities. The spokesperson highlighted funding secured through the One Big Beautiful Bill, which aims to enhance detention capacity.
Local leaders have expressed concerns about the implications of the sale. Upper Bern Township’s solicitor stated that community officials were only informed of the sale recently and would not comment further. In a joint statement, State Senator Chris Gebhard and Representative Jamie Barton, both Republicans representing the area, indicated they are seeking more information from federal authorities regarding the facility’s intended use. They noted potential impacts on local property tax revenues, which currently amount to about $624,000 annually for the municipality, county, and school district combined.
The property has a current assessed value of $22 million and pays approximately $198,286 in county taxes. The federal purchase raises questions about future tax contributions and the broader consequences for community safety and cohesion.
Senator Judy Schwank, a Democrat from Berks County, previously expressed her concerns regarding the facility’s potential establishment. She referred to reports of mistreatment in existing ICE facilities and questioned the appropriateness of such a center in the county.
The warehouse sale was made by an LLC affiliated with PCCP, a national commercial real estate equity firm. Despite attempts to gain insights into the sale, a partner at PCCP, Greg Eberhardt, declined to comment on the transaction.
The local context reveals Upper Bern Township’s population is approximately 1,600, predominantly white, with only 2.8% identifying as another race, according to the 2020 census. Legal expert Bridget Cambria, representing the nonprofit Aldea, voiced her apprehension regarding the effects on the area’s immigrant community, suggesting the presence of a detention center could deter individuals from seeking legal immigration processes.
Research conducted by the Detention Watch Center and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in 2022 found a correlation between the number of detention beds in a county and increased arrests by ICE, raising further alarms for local residents.
This coverage is provided by the Berks County bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent and nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to impactful local journalism. For daily updates on essential local stories, visit spotlightpa.org/newsletters/gooddayberks.
