Berks County Residential Center

The Berks Family Residential Center is an ICE detention center that is located in Leesport, Pennsylvania. This facility houses detainees who are in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

If you need information about a detainee who is housed at the Berks Family Residential Center, call (610) 374-0743 between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.

When you call, have the detainee's information ready. Including their full name (first, last, and hyphenated), known aliases, date of birth, and country of birth.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting hours at Berks Family Residential Center are 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, seven days a week. However, all visits are by appointment only. Appointments can be made by contacting a caseworker at (610) 396-0310, ext. 2360 or 2361, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. seven days a week. 

If a visitor arrives who did not schedule an appointment, a decision will be made on a case by case basis as to whether or not the visit will be allowed.

General Rules

Visits may be for any length of time, but cannot interfere with programming (meals, medical, court, etc.). All visitors are required to enter the center through the main entrance, located directly across from the main parking lot in the front of the building. 

Adult visitors must have a valid photo ID.mMinors must be accompanied by an adult and must remain under the direct supervision of the adult visitor at all times during the visit. 

Visitors must secure all personal belongings in their vehicle prior to entering the center. Residents are not permitted to accept any item from a visitor unless approved by Management beforehand.

Visitors must wear appropriate and socially acceptable attire.

A hand held wand will be used to scan all visitors. Anyone refusing to cooperate with a reasonable search will not be admitted. No firearms or weapons of any kind are allowed. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios, etc.) are permitted in the secure areas of the center.

Attorney Visits
Attorneys and paralegals may visit their clients seven days a week between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Legal representatives must schedule an appointment and are required to submit visitation requests 72 hours in advance of their initial visit and at least 24 hours in advance of additional visits. Appointments can be made by contacting a caseworker at (610) 396-0310, ext. 2360 or 2361.

Consular Visits
Consular officials are allowed to meet with their detained nationals at any time, seven days a week. Whenever possible, arrangements should be made with the ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer in advance of the visit. All consular officials should bring appropriate credentials. 

You may call the ICE Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer in charge of Berks Family Residential Center at (610) 374-0743.

Clergy Visits
Clergy are allowed to visit detainees housed at the Berks Family Residential Center at any time. Arrangements must be made in advance with the Chaplain’s Office.

When sending a detainee mail, you must include the last four digits of their Alien number, plus your name and address. The staff at Berks Family Residential Center does not read detainee mail, but they do screen for contraband. 

Sending Packages

Detainees at Berks Family Residential Center are not allowed to receive care packages. However, a resident may receive items that are determined to be necessary for the sole purpose of travel or release from agency custody with approval of the ICE Deportation Officer. 

Before sending packages to residents, please contact ICE at (610) 374-0743 for further instructions.

Detainees who are being removed from the United States are allowed to have one small piece of luggage. You can send the luggage and travel items after getting approval from the Supervisory Deportation Officer. For security reasons, you are not allowed to send electronic devices (cell phones, electric razors, laptop computers, radios, etc.).

How to Call an Inmate

You can't call a detainee at Berks Family Residential Center. However, if you need to contact a detainee you can call (610) 374-0743 and leave a message. 

Your message will be given to the detainee, and must include their full name, their alien registration number, and a telephone number where you can be reached.

How to Send Money

You can send money to a detainee at Berks Family Residential Center by mailing them a money order or cashier's check to:

Berks Family Residential Center
Detainee Name
Alien Number
1040 Berks Road
Leesport, PA 19533
United States

If a resident receives funds in the mail, they will be taken to the processing area for the money to be placed into their account. The processing officer will provide a receipt for all funds received. Residents are cautioned not to have cash sent to them in the mail.

To Post a Delivery Bond

When someone is taken into ICE custody and placed into removal proceedings while they are in the United States, a delivery bond may be posted. When you post a delivery bond, you are required to show proof of identity.

Bonds for aliens detained by ICE can be posted at ICE ERO bond acceptance offices nationwide, Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., local time. For a list of ICE ERO bond acceptance offices nearest you or for bond information, click here. You must have the last name of the detainee and their alien registration number before calling. 

Acceptable forms of payment are: 

• money orders
• cashier’s checks 
• certified checks

Payments must be made payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” or “Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”

Programs For Inmates

This information is not publicly available.

Pictures of Berks County Residential Center

Careers at Berks County Residential Center

If you are interested in a career with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and would like more information about job openings at Berks Family Residential Center, click here.