Tremont Township in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, has only one stop light, but the 300-person community is now at the center of the national immigration debate. 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is planning to convert an old warehouse in the area into a 7,500-person detention facility. Many of Tremont’s most vocal residents are wary about whether their township can support the ICE facility. 

Some see the planned detention center as a workforce opportunity, while others fear it will only exacerbate the community’s economic and environmental problems.

In Episode 34, we’re handing the reins to our States Newsroom colleagues at the Pennsylvania Capital-Star for Part 2 of their series “ICEd Out.”

“ICEd Out: Detention center plans meet resistance in Pennsylvania’s coal region” is a new series that explores how commonwealth residents are pushing back against the facilities.

The Pennsylvania Capital-Star's Emily Previti spent time in Coal Region to learn how the plan is being received by residents, elected leaders and business owners.

She found people grappling with being thrust into the national immigration debate and – once again – with the possibility of exploitation by outsiders.

ICEd Out is a limited series from Folo PA, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star’s podcast, produced by Emily Previti and edited by Tim Lambert. Special thanks to WITF for the use of their studios. 

You can listen to the full series here.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. 

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected]

Photo: Bernie Gardula walks with his dog Jade near his office at Rausch Creek Off-Road Park in Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, on March 12, 2026. (Photo by Jessica Kourkounis/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)