Berks County Services Center-13" Floor 633 Court Street Reading, PA 19601-4310 610-478-6136, ext. 6133 610-478-6293 Fax swww.countyofberks.com July 16, 2019 Subject: Berks County Residential Center (BCRC) To the People of Berks County, Since 2001, the County of Berks has been supporting the efforts of the Federal Government in keeping families together while awaiting the legal process for asylum. Over these 18 years our management and staff have done a tremendous job under difficult political and public debate circumstances, with one inexcusable exception. The employees have been unfairly accused and ultimately exonerated with respect to scurrilous statements made by anonymous sources, activists and immigration attorneys. The 59 employees presently employed to provide shelter care, interpretation services, recreation, supervision and direction, deserve our support, not our disdai The BCRC was created to keep families together in humane conditions while they await the results of their asylum proceedings. They are going through a legal process and are not residing at the BCRC because they committed a crime. The BCRC is intended for short- term stays. No one, including the employees, want to see long-term stays. That is out of the county’s control. The county ensures the residents are safe and well-taken care of. Families are receiving medical, dental and psychiatric care, most for the first time in their lives. Children are being educated and the teachers ensure their progress. Report cards/records follow them to their new school districts when they are discharged from the BCRC. Children are also provided educational trips and leisure activities. The national immigration conversation has drastically changed in the last few years. T am not in agreement with door-to-door raids and I have spoken out in the past against any Section 287(g) efforts. I am not in agreement with any change to the existing BCRC program. I do not want victims of immigration raids to be housed at the BCRC. It is NOT a jail and should not be treated as one. ‘We have experienced a decrease in the daily population at the center which has necessitated a decrease in county staff positions. While the BCRC ensures a humane transition period for families regardless of their ultimate asylum ruling, there is a fear that the federal government is changing the immigration landscape in a negative way and I am not in support of the BCRC and its employees being associated with these extreme changes.Therefore, I am taking preemptive measures by stating my opposition to the continuation of the BCRC as a Berks County Government function before the federal government makes any additional program changes. ‘The assumption that the facility can be converted to a drug treatment facility or a homeless shelter for veterans are not viable alternatives for both the employees as well as the structure itself. ‘The county provides significant monies to COCA for drug and alcohol services through private and non-profit providers and the number of truly homeless veterans ‘would not justify the extremely large capacity of the building, The county could market the building for lease to other interested parties, but I believe it would be a challenge to lease with the abundance of space in the marketplace. My decision certainly could create additional challenges with displaced employees and a mostly vacant structure, but every difficult decision comes with additional challenges. Thave not come upon this decision lightly, but with the national irrational policy discussions, can no longer stand by and not take a position to do what is right as a county commissioner. hope my decision will in some small measure, inspire our leadership in Washington to finally propose, discuss publicly and vote on sensible immigration reform that will once again create, in America, a nation that’s a beacon of hope for those seeking a better life for themselves and their families. Respectfully, Kevin 8. Barnhardt Berks County Commissioner CC: Christian Y. Leinbach, Berks County Commissioner, Chair Mark C. Scott, Esq., Berks County Commissioner Ron Seaman, Chief Administrative Officer Diane Edwards, Executive Director Berks County Residential Center