In a statement released to Skook News on Monday, Meuser said DHS has acquired facilities in Tremont Township, Schuylkill County, and near Hamburg in Berks County, with each expected to serve different roles within the immigration system.
“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has purchased two facilities in Pennsylvania’s Ninth District, one in Tremont Township in Schuylkill County and another outside Hamburg in Berks County,” Meuser said. “The Tremont facility is intended to serve as a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center, and the Hamburg facility is expected to operate as an ICE processing center, with DHS indicating the facilities could employ as many as 2,000 workers from the surrounding area.”
Tremont facility details already confirmed locally
County records show the federal government recently paid $119.5 million for the former Big Lots distribution center along Rausch Creek Road in Tremont Township. The warehouse spans roughly 1.3 million square feet.Information shared with Schuylkill County commissioners indicates the site could be converted into a 7,500-bed detention facility, with detainees typically held for 45 to 90 days before being transferred or released. Officials have also been told the operation could create 2,000 to 2,500 jobs, with an effort to hire locally.
The scale of the proposed facility has prompted concerns from local leaders about whether the rural township’s infrastructure can support such a large daily population.
Local concerns mirror congressman’s questions
Meuser said he shares many of the same questions being raised by county officials and residents.
“These recent developments have raised serious concerns, and I share many of the same questions being raised by local officials and residents,” he said. “I have already met with DHS officials and spoken with elected leaders in both Schuylkill and Berks Counties, and we will continue those discussions this week as we work to get clear answers.”
Schuylkill County commissioners have publicly questioned whether water and sewer systems, originally built to serve light industrial use, can handle thousands of detainees and staff.
County leaders have said the Tremont sewage treatment plant and water system do not currently have the capacity for that level of demand. Public safety has also been raised as a concern, as neither Tremont Township nor the borough has its own police department, relying instead on Pennsylvania State Police coverage. Emergency services staffing and traffic impacts have also been discussed.
Financially, the federally owned property would be tax-exempt, resulting in estimated annual revenue losses of approximately:
- $223,000 to Schuylkill County
- $555,000 to the Pine Grove Area School District
- $196,000 to Tremont Township
Meeting planned with local officials
Meuser said he intends to bring federal and local leaders together to address those issues directly.
“Outstanding questions include water and sewage capacity, utility usage, transportation impacts, security considerations, potential impacts on local tax revenue, and the overall operational plan,” he said. “I plan to convene a meeting as soon as possible, bringing together Schuylkill and Berks County officials with DHS to address these issues directly and ensure transparency moving forward.”
Broader immigration context
In his statement, Meuser also pointed to national immigration trends as part of the reason such facilities are being developed.
“During the Biden-Harris Administration, perhaps more than 15 million illegal immigrants unlawfully entered the United States, and there is reason to believe that as many as 1 million may have crossed our borders with criminal records,” he said. “That reality has placed significant strain on our immigration system, resulting in detention and processing centers becoming a reality in many communities, including our own.”
He added that oversight will remain a priority.
“Regardless of the circumstances, we will continue to monitor these facilities and provide oversight to ensure they operate responsibly and in a manner that is not overly intrusive to our community.”
What’s next
Schuylkill County commissioners have said they will continue pressing for answers on infrastructure upgrades, emergency services planning and the facility’s operational footprint before the center becomes active.
No timeline for when the Tremont facility could begin operating has been publicly announced.