ICE Buys $87M Pennsylvania Warehouse: Immigrant Communities Brace for a New Wave of Detentions

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has quietly but officially acquired a massive 520,000-square-foot warehouse complex in Upper Bern Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, as part of a nationwide push to scale up detention capacity.

Public deed records filed on 2 February 2026 show ICE has acquired the facility in Upper Bern Township for $87.4 million (£69.4 million).

The facility, formerly known as the Hamburg Logistics Centre, is about a mile from Interstate 78 and just down the road from an Amazon distribution hub. Before that, it was the Mountain Springs Arena, a beloved venue for rodeos and demolition derbies, back when the biggest crowds gathered for entertainment rather than controversy.

The acquisition, recorded without prior notice to the township, intends to convert industrial warehouses into large immigration detention or processing centres nationwide.

Federal and local reports say it could hold up to 1,500 beds, making it one of dozens of sites under consideration. The authorities have not confirmed the site's intended use, but community leaders say the secrecy alone has shaken trust.

According to WFMZ and other media outlets, ICE is planning similar conversions of at least 23 warehouses across the US, as part of a planned move backed by the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' funding package to bolster detention infrastructure.

Local Officials Surprised, Immigrants Worried

Local officials were taken by surprise. Upper Bern Township solicitor Andrew Hoffman said the local government was not involved in the transfer and has not received any planning applications related to the warehouse's future use.

State lawmakers, including Republican Sen. Chris Gebhard and Rep. Jamie Barton, expressed concern about the loss of annual property tax revenue, estimated at about £495,000 ($624,000), because federal ownership exempts the site from local taxes.

They have sought clarity from federal authorities on how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) might use the facility, but have not yet received an answer.

The sale has attracted criticism online.

Many commenters drew stark comparisons to historical internment sites. One user warned: 'It's like Guantanamo Bay... And Americans are just accepting it. First they came for the brown people that didn't have their IDs with them... and I did nothing'.

Others shared concerns about health and safety, especially for children held in these centres. 'They're having to pause operations at one of those because of a measles outbreak'. noted a user, pointing to the risk of disease spreading in overcrowded facilities. Another added, 'Not sure why they feel the need for such a volume of detainees all at one time. Very concerning'.

Financial motives were also raised repeatedly.

One commenter explained, 'ICE pays roughly $165 a day for each person held in detention. More arrests mean more money for these companies... for-profit prisons... have no rush to process fast'. Another emphasised the role of private contractors, writing, 'Who profits from a $45 billion investment in immigrant detention? Two companies are likely to gain the most: CoreCivic and the GEO Group'.

Democratic State Sen. Judy Schwank called the potential conversion of warehoused space into a detention centre 'deeply concerning', citing reports of mistreatment in existing ICE facilities and warning against similar operations in her county.

ICE is Looking to Build More Detention Centres

A spokesperson for ICE defended the purchase, saying the agency now has expanded funding to increase detention capacity to remove 'vicious criminals' before they can re‑offend, but declined to provide specifics about plans for the Berks site.

In recent weeks, ICE has acquired large warehouses in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, and in other states, including Arizona and Maryland, as several communities push back against federal plans. Some towns, including Kansas City, have adopted moratoriums on non‑municipal detention facilities in response to similar federal procurement efforts.

Advocacy groups and immigration rights attorneys warn that converting industrial buildings into detention centres could strain local services and raise humanitarian and legal concerns about conditions inside these centres.