Berks County PA — Upper Bern Township Warehouse (1,500 beds) Blocked by DEP
paused
— DHS purchased a 518,140 sq ft warehouse in Upper Bern Township on February 2, 2026 for $87.4M, planning a 1,500-bed immigration processing facility. PA DEP issued administrative orders on March 5, 2026, barring DHS from occupying the site or connecting to water or sewer until it demonstrates compliance with state environmental law — the proposed facility would spike sewage from 8,000 to 100,000 gallons per day against a 155,000-gpd plant. ICE filed an appeal April 8 with the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board; Judge Bernard Labuskes Jr. assigned; discovery and settlement negotiations run through November 2026, with contested resolution potentially taking years.