GOVERNOR SHAPIRO URGES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO RECONSIDER PLANS FOR ICE DETENTION FACILITIES

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is urging the Department of Homeland Security to reconsider plans to convert two warehouses in the state into detention facilities for ICE.  In a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem last week, Shapiro warned the detention centers in Tremont and Upper Bern Townships would endanger communities and drain local resources.  He said the water supply in Tremont is already under “extreme stress,” and the wastewater demands in Upper Bern would be unsustainable.  Officials in both townships have also voiced concerns about a major loss in revenue, as federal property is tax exempt.