READING, Pa. - The Berks County Board of Commissioners' weekly meeting on Thursday centered on a warehouse in Upper Bern Township purchased by ICE for $87.4 million.
Public comment came first.
Lisa Gallagher of Spring Township raised concerns about ICE's operations.
"If you watch any video on their operations, you will see violent and unconstitutional behavior over and over and over again," Gallagher said. "People think it can't happen here. People are going about their lives thinking that's someplace else."
Alex Crawford of Reading also addressed the commissioners.
"I'm deeply concerned about the safety of my loved ones and neighbors," Crawford said.
Commissioners then explained that they learned about the deal only after it was finalized.
"That was a shock to us," said Commissioner Chair Christian Leinbach.
Leinbach says the county had no role in the sale.
"That was Monday morning at 11:03 a.m. when Fred Sheeler, our recorder of deeds, notified leadership and gave us a copy of the deed and said, 'Hey, Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency just filed a deed on 3501 Mountain Road,'" he said.
A number of community members expressed concerns at the meeting.
"I volunteer at a local food bank in a warehouse," Gallagher said. "A warehouse is a place to store items, not human beings."
Others raised family concerns.
"I'm afraid that one day, my dad will go out for groceries, and he won't come back," said Jerepsi Cabello-Melgar of Tilden Township. "It is terrifying to be Latino in this country. And once upon a time, my parents' legal status was comforting. I thought that they were safe from ever being taken away from us. But now, as a citizen of this country, I don't even feel safe."
Leinbach said commissioners still do not know what the warehouse will be used for.
"We have no verification of how it's going to be used. We've heard nothing directly from Homeland Security," he said.
He also pointed to the financial impact.
"It was approved as a tax-paying private business. Over $827,000 are going to be lost that were anticipated by the school district," Leinbach said. "They take the hardest hit, followed by the county and the municipality. And, again, we talked about the money. I think it's $31,000 roughly to Upper Bern."
In response to 69 News, ICE sent a statement saying "the agency is expanding detention space using recently approved federal funding." ICE added that "it is targeting violent criminals. 70% of the detentions involve individuals charged or convicted of a crime in the United States."