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Federal Government

Gov. Josh Shapiro, cabinet secretaries, and local officials meet to discuss proposed ICE detention centers.

ICE told Pa. agency about warehouse plans in January

by Kate Huangpu and Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA

A source close to the Shapiro administration said the agreements were already complete by the time it learned of the plans.

Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks at a news conference at Berks County Agricultural Center in Bern Township on Feb. 26, 2026.

Shapiro vows to block ICE detention centers, warns of devastating impact on local Pa. communities

by Hanna Holthaus and Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA

Shapiro stopped short of discussing what his admin might do following a private meeting with local officials from Berks and Schuylkill Counties.

The Trump administration has purchased a warehouse in Upper Bern Township, Berks County.

ICE facilities are planned for Pa. Will the Shapiro admin sue to stop them?

by Kate Huangpu and Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA

The Trump administration is planning massive Pa. ICE facilities in Berks and Schuylkill Counties, despite state and local concerns.

Roughly 100 people gathered at Upper Bern Township’s municipal building on Feb. 21 to protest a planned ICE detention center.

Crowd rallies at first protest against planned ICE center in Upper Bern

by Ann Rejrat for Spotlight PA

A protest organized by two college students drew roughly 100 people to Upper Bern Township’s municipal building on Saturday. The group expressed opposition to a planned ICE detention center.

A view of homes from the Upper Bern Township building near Shartlesville, Pennsylvania, Feb. 9, 2026.

Officials warn ICE detention centers in Pa. could overwhelm sewer, other critical services

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

What we know about the potential impact of ICE plans to hold 1,500 people in an Upper Bern Township warehouse that was built for 230 workers.

A warehouse in Upper Bern Township, Berks County, that ICE plans to use as a processing facility.

ICE memo reveals timeline, scale of warehouse plans that include Berks, Schuylkill counties

by Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA

An internal ICE memo claims facilities won’t burden communities like Upper Bern and Tremont Townships, something local and state officials have raised concerns about.

TECfusion's data center in Springdale Township, Pennsylvania.

Costs, local backlashes cause GOP state legislators to cool on national data center push

by Samuel Larreal of NOTUS

GOP legislators across the country want to pause new data center construction, a break with President Donald Trump and most congressional Republicans.

A view of a Berks County warehouse purchased by ICE to be used as a processing center.

Shutdown may delay answers about planned ICE facility in Berks County

by Hanna Holthaus of Spotlight PA

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser and a DHS representative will meet with local officials to answer questions, a county commissioner says.

People walk past locations of the now removed explanatory panels that were part of an exhibit on slavery.

Trump administration ordered to restore George Washington slavery exhibit it removed in Philadelphia

by Associated Press

The city of Philadelphia sued in January after the National Park Service removed the explanatory panels from Independence National Historical Park.

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser (R., Pa.) speaks at a campaign rally for JD Vance in 2024.

Congressional Republicans hound Trump admin over ICE facilities planned for Pa., other states

by Jackie Llanos of NOTUS and Manuela Silva of NOTUS

Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser said he’s spoken with homeland security officials regularly about local concerns over detention centers planned in PA.

A view of an Upper Bern Township warehouse that ICE purchased for a detention center.

Shapiro admin tells ICE to drop plans for Pa. detention centers, warns facilities may not get permits

by Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA

ICE detention centers planned for Berks and Schuylkill Counties would burden residents and possibly violate state legal requirements, officials say.

A Berks County Commissioners town hall meeting at Bethel-Tulpehocken Public Library in Bethel Township, on Feb. 11, 2026.

Neighbors of planned ICE detention center in Berks County say opposition crosses political lines

by Molly Bilinski for Spotlight PA

Upper Bern Township residents say they were blindsided by the $87.4 million purchase and are looking for ways to block ICE’s plan.

About 200 people protested outside Gov. Josh Shapiro’s book event at the Free Library of Philadelphia on Jan. 24, 2026, calling for Shapiro to adopt stricter policies against collaboration with ICE.

How agencies under Gov. Josh Shapiro's control do — and don't — cooperate with ICE

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

While there are limits, collaboration still happens through a handful of key avenues, a Spotlight PA review of Shapiro administration policies and statements shows.

U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D., Pa.)

Grand jury declines to indict Dems who urged military members to resist illegal orders in video

by Associated Press

Last year, the lawmakers urged U.S. service members to follow established military protocols and reject orders they believe to be unlawful.

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.)

GOP US Rep. Fitzpatrick of Pa. heads into midterms with huge fundraising advantage

by Riley Rogerson of NOTUS and Avani Kalra of NOTUS

Fitzpatrick raised over $860,000 last quarter compared to his leading challenger Bob Harvie’s approximately $370,000, and now has over $7.3 million on hand.

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to promote investment in rural health care in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Washington.

What did Trump mean by ‘nationalize the voting’? No one is sure.

by Nathaniel Rakich of Votebeat

A federal takeover of elections would be an extraordinary challenge to the power of state and local governments to run their own voting.

PA Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (center, rear) at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025.

Fitzpatrick among Republicans who want nothing to do with conservative efforts to ban same-sex marriage

by Oriana González of NOTUS

Some conservative advocates want to overturn the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage in 2015.

Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) leaves the chamber as the Senate holds a procedural vote on July 24, 2025.

Fetterman ‘absolutely’ expects a partial federal government shutdown over DHS reform

by Amelia Benavides-Colón of NOTUS

Partisan disagreements over DHS funding and potential agency reforms come amid the Trump administration’s deportation push.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in January 2025.

The Trump admin keeps citing unreviewed vaccine trial proposals in its call for ‘better science’

by Margaret Manto of NOTUS

Leading vaccine researchers say that the proposed vaccine trials could lead to unreliable conclusions on already-approved vaccines.

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman (left) and Republican Sen. Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania.

John Fetterman and Dave McCormick discuss their bipartisan US Senate partnership

by Avani Kalra of NOTUS

The Republican and Democrat from a politically important purple state represent one of only three split states by party in the Senate.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a news conference at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Washington.

Judge blocks Trump administration from ending protections for Haitians

by Associated Press

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington granted a request to pause the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians while a lawsuit challenging it proceeds.

A warehouse in Upper Bern Township, Berks County, PA, was purchased by ICE and the Trump administration.

ICE buys $87M warehouse in Berks County as it plots expansion of immigration detention centers across the U.S.

by Amanda Fries and Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA

The warehouse, located at 3501 Mountain Road in Upper Bern Township, was sold to the United States government on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security and ICE.

Kassandra Barthelemy is a nurse practitioner originally from Haiti and founder of Careland Clinic and Careland Home Health.

Berks’ tight-knit Haitian community braces for end of federal immigration protections

by Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA

Community members say the loss of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian workers is likely to ripple across the local economy, particularly in health care.

PA Gov. Josh Shapiro

Josh Shapiro says he’s preparing for a potential deportation surge in Pennsylvania

by Helen Huiskes of NOTUS

There’s been no indication that President Donald Trump is looking to target Pennsylvania, but Josh Shapiro says he’s not leaving anything to chance.

The U.S. Capitol.

Fetterman joins all US Senate Dems to block funding package amid ICE debate

by Em Luetkemeyer, Avani Kalra, and Ursula Perano of NOTUS

Ahead of a government shutdown deadline, Democrats, including John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, and several Republicans, voted 45-55 to block the package.

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