TOWNSHIP STATEMENT
March 12, 2026
During the past month, Upper Bern Township has engaged with various governmental agencies, including the Governor’s Office, elected state and federal representatives, and DHS-ICE representatives, seeking to learn more about the ICE facility proposed along Mountain Road in Upper Bern Township. Upper Bern Township has engaged with them on behalf of its residents to ensure that the concerns of the Township about the impact on the health, safety and welfare of residents were addressed. The Township participated along with representatives from Berks and Schuylkill Counties in a call with DHS-ICE where local and regional concerns were raised and DHS-ICE provided few answers. The Township also attended a meeting with Governor Shapiro and others from his administration to discuss those local and regional concerns and hear directly from the Governor his thoughts about them.
Most recently, the Township received an Administrative Order from the PA Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) prohibiting issuance of permits by the Township for use of the Mountain Road property other than as the approved warehouse. The Township understands that the Administrative Order does not require the Township to affirmatively take any action, including any amendment of its Act 537 plan. The Township will comply with that Administrative Order and will not interfere with the PA DEP’s enforcement of its Administrative Order.
Upper Bern Township remains open to engage with any County, State and Federal officials to learn more about the plans of the federal government for the proposed ICE facility on Mountain Road and the ways in which the federal government at the federal government’s expense will attend to the infrastructure and emergency services concerns and needs of the Township.
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