Gov. Josh Shapiro said he will do everything in his power to stop the federal government from turning Pennsylvania warehouses into ICE detention centers. Shapiro, along with other leaders, held a press conference on Thursday to discuss the proposed ICE detention facilities in Berks and Schuylkill counties. Léelo en español aquí. This update comes after the Department of Homeland Security recently purchased a warehouse in Berks County that public records showed could be converted into an immigration detention center. NBC10 obtained a deed that showed ICE bought a warehouse in Upper Bern Township for $87.4 million in January 2026. That center could potentially house around 1,500 people. SkyForce10 flew over the warehouse. “I wanna be very clear, I don’t want either of these sites in the commonwealth,” said Shapiro. According to the census, Upper Bern Township, where the center would be located, has only around 1,600 people. Neighbors NBC10 spoke to are worried about the issues the center could bring, although some think investment could make it work. “It would because where I live, it’s a problem the sewage the water and yeah because that’s a lot of people,” said Bernice Jacques of Shartlesville. “I don’t have a problem with it. They’ll work it out. They’ve been built others all around,” said Cathy of Shartlesville. The center in Schuykill County was bought for 120 million and could hold 7,500 people. Shapiro said local leaders there told him that without investment in advance, the center would dry up the water supply. “That means that they literally won’t be able to turn on the water in the kitchen. If they fill up a pot of water, they won’t be able to flush the toilet,” said Shapiro. Shapiro added that he is looking at everything, including regulatory steps through DEP, LI, and other departments, to potentially block the centers from being built. NBC10 reached out to DHS several times regarding their plans for the warehouses, but they haven’t responded. In a little over a year, the number of detention facilities used by ICE more than doubled to 225 sites across 48 states and territories. Most of that growth came through existing contracts with the U.S. Marshals Service or deals to use empty beds at county jails. President Trump’s administration is now taking steps to open more large-scale facilities. In January, ICE paid $102 million for a warehouse in Washington County, Maryland, and more than $70 million for one in Surprise, Arizona, along with the facility in Berks County. Federal immigration officials have toured large warehouses elsewhere, without releasing many details about the efforts. “They will be very well structured detention facilities meeting our regular detention standards,” ICE said in a statement, adding: “It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrests in states across the U.S. and is actively working to expand detention space.” ...read more read less