The Northeast’s Largest 7,500‑Bed ICE Mega‑Center Is Coming — Unless We Stop It
The Northeast’s Largest 7,500‑Bed ICE Mega‑Center Is Coming — Unless We Stop It
The Issue
We, the residents of Schuylkill County and concerned supporters across Pennsylvania, call for the immediate reversal of the plan to convert the former Big Lots distribution center in Tremont Township into a 7,500‑bed ICE detention and processing facility. This project is being advanced without community input and poses serious risks to our children, our environment, our infrastructure, and our economic future.
Summary
In February 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security purchased the 1.3‑million‑square‑foot former Big Lots warehouse for $119.5 million with the intention of transforming it into a massive detention center. This facility would process thousands of detainees every 45–90 days, making it one of the largest ICE operations in the Northeast.
This site sits just 300 yards from a local daycare—placing a high‑security federal detention complex within immediate proximity of young children. No parent, educator, or community member was consulted before this decision was made.
The county stands to lose nearly $1 million per year in tax revenue due to the federal purchase, while gaining the long‑term risks associated with detention‑economy dependency. Communities across the country with ICE facilities have reported reduced oversight, increased local costs, and environmental hazards ranging from toxic exposure to ecological disruption.
A facility of this size will strain our rural infrastructure—our roads, emergency services, water systems, and waste management—while offering no guarantee of sustainable economic benefit.
Most importantly, this project is being forced upon a community that was never asked.
Call to Action
We demand:
• A full halt to the development of this facility
• A transparent, community‑centered review process
• An independent environmental and infrastructure impact assessment
• Exploration of alternative uses for the property that support—not endanger—our community
We urge our elected officials, county commissioners, and federal representatives to stand with the people of Schuylkill County and reject this project.
2,963
The Issue
We, the residents of Schuylkill County and concerned supporters across Pennsylvania, call for the immediate reversal of the plan to convert the former Big Lots distribution center in Tremont Township into a 7,500‑bed ICE detention and processing facility. This project is being advanced without community input and poses serious risks to our children, our environment, our infrastructure, and our economic future.
Summary
In February 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security purchased the 1.3‑million‑square‑foot former Big Lots warehouse for $119.5 million with the intention of transforming it into a massive detention center. This facility would process thousands of detainees every 45–90 days, making it one of the largest ICE operations in the Northeast.
This site sits just 300 yards from a local daycare—placing a high‑security federal detention complex within immediate proximity of young children. No parent, educator, or community member was consulted before this decision was made.
The county stands to lose nearly $1 million per year in tax revenue due to the federal purchase, while gaining the long‑term risks associated with detention‑economy dependency. Communities across the country with ICE facilities have reported reduced oversight, increased local costs, and environmental hazards ranging from toxic exposure to ecological disruption.
A facility of this size will strain our rural infrastructure—our roads, emergency services, water systems, and waste management—while offering no guarantee of sustainable economic benefit.
Most importantly, this project is being forced upon a community that was never asked.
Call to Action
We demand:
• A full halt to the development of this facility
• A transparent, community‑centered review process
• An independent environmental and infrastructure impact assessment
• Exploration of alternative uses for the property that support—not endanger—our community
We urge our elected officials, county commissioners, and federal representatives to stand with the people of Schuylkill County and reject this project.
2,963
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on February 6, 2026