The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a series of administrative orders that could significantly delay plans to convert two warehouses in Schuylkill and Berks counties into large immigration detention centers.
According to DEP officials, five administrative orders were issued on March 5, 2026, including two directed to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and three directed to local authorities: the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority (SCMA), Tremont Township, and Upper Bern Township.
The orders state that water and sewage services cannot be supplied to the warehouses— and the buildings cannot be occupied— until DHS demonstrates compliance with federal and state environmental regulations…