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Immigrant detention center in Berks County will close

For more than a decade, the center had been one of three places where U.S. immigration enforcement would detain families with children.

By Staff and Gabriela Martínez/WITF

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A Berks immigration center detainee and six staff have contracted COVID-19 since October

Immigration officials say they are taking detailed precautions, activists call on Gov. Tom Wolf and President-elect Joe Biden to take action.

By Anthony Orozco

Lawyers: Asylum seekers whose claims were rejected under illegal rules should get another chance

Lawyers representing families detained at the Berks County Residential Center say Immigrations and Customs Enforcement may deport two families as soon as this weekend.

By Alanna Elder/WITF

Employee at Berks County immigration detention center tests positive for COVID-19

An employee at Berks County Residential Center received a positive test result for COVID-19 on Oct. 16, a week after last working in the building, according to a letter sent to families detained there.

By Alanna Elder/WITF and Laura Benshoff/WHYY

Updated: 2020-07-31 12:45:00

Immigration activists stage Wednesday night protest outside Pennsylvania governor’s mansion

Sunrise Movement protesters used a projector to display statements of immigrant families being held in the Berks County Residential Center. The statements described the emotional cost of family detention and reported the center’s failure to take precautions against the spread of coronavirus.

By Anthony Orozco/PA Post

ICE, Pa. courts push back on bids to free immigrant families in Berks Center due to COVID-19

After being ordered to release all children in their custody due to the coronavirus pandemic,  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials argued against releasing their parents with them in new court filings.

By Laura Benshoff/WHYY

Court rules ICE must release children at Berks Residential Center, but advocates are concerned

“We have unfortunately seen Judge Gee’s orders ignored by ICE multiple times since 2015.”
By Alanna Elder/WITF

Updated: 2020-06-30 12:30:00

Activists seeking closure of ICE detention facility turn focus to Berks County’s lone Latino commissioner

Shut Down Berks Coalition brings message to Commissioner Michael Rivera’s home during Monday night protest
By Anthony Orozco/PA Post
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