The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has purchased a nearly 520,000-square-foot warehouse in Berks County, Pennsylvania, as part of its plan to transform such facilities into immigration detention centers nationwide. The U.S. government acquired the property located at 3501 Mountain Road in Upper Bern Township for $87.4 million, with the purchase officially recorded on February 2, 2024.
The warehouse, previously known as the Hamburg Logistics Center, is situated about a mile from Interstate 78 and is adjacent to an Amazon warehouse and the Mountain Springs Camping Resort. According to reports from Bloomberg, this facility is among at least 23 locations targeted by ICE for conversion into detention centers, with the capacity to house up to 1,500 beds for detainees.
On January 15, Spotlight PA observed a group of individuals, including someone who identified himself as an ICE representative, touring the exterior of the building. The facility was once a local landmark known for hosting rodeos and demolition derbies.
In addition to the Berks County acquisition, ICE also completed the purchase of another warehouse in Tremont Township, Schuylkill County, on the same day. This site has already generated significant local concern due to its proximity to a day care center, which has prompted strong opposition from community residents.
ICE spokespersons refrained from commenting on the specifics of the Berks County purchase. Instead, they emphasized the agency’s focus on apprehending “vicious criminals,” stating that the recent funding increase allows for the expansion of detention space to effectively manage immigration enforcement.
Local officials, including Upper Bern Township’s solicitor, confirmed that community leaders learned about the sale only this week. The township has not been involved in the transaction and has not received any applications regarding future use of the property. The solicitor’s statement indicated that the township would refrain from further comments at this time.
State Senator Chris Gebhard and Representative Jamie Barton, both Republicans representing the area, expressed concerns regarding the potential implications of the facility. “Our immediate concerns include the potential loss of property tax revenue for the host municipality, county, and school district, as well as security and perimeter considerations,” they stated in a joint communication. They have reached out to federal officials to gather more information on how the Department of Homeland Security intends to utilize the warehouse.
The property is currently assessed at $22 million and contributes approximately $198,286 annually in county property taxes under the existing tax rate. Combined with local school district taxes, the loss of revenue resulting from the federal purchase is estimated to be around $624,000.
State Senator Judy Schwank, a Democrat from Berks, previously expressed concerns about the potential sale, particularly in light of reports regarding the treatment of detainees in ICE facilities. She highlighted her apprehensions following a recent incident in Minneapolis involving federal agents, stating, “I don’t necessarily want to see something like that being housed in our county.”
Deed records indicate that the property was sold to ICE by an LLC associated with PCCP, a national commercial real estate equity firm. The firm had acquired the warehouse for $57.5 million in 2024. When contacted for comments regarding the sale, PCCP partner Greg Eberhardt denied any knowledge of the property or its transaction.
Upper Bern Township, located on the border of Berks and Schuylkill counties, has a small population of approximately 1,600 residents, predominantly white. According to the 2020 census, only 2.8% of the community identifies as a different race.
Bridget Cambria, an attorney with Aldea, a nonprofit providing pro bono immigration legal services, articulated concerns regarding the impact of a detention center on the local immigrant population. She predicted that the facility would create a “disruptive” and “chilling” effect, making community members more fearful of engaging with immigration processes. A study by the Detention Watch Center and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in 2022 suggested that immigrants are more likely to be targeted by ICE in areas with increased detention bed space.
This report was produced by the Berks County bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent and nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to accountability journalism. For more local stories, sign up for their daily newsletter at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/gooddayberks. Contributions to Spotlight PA can be made at spotlightpa.org/donate to support this important work.
