Death of a Chinese citizen at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Clearfield County reignites advocacy for the facility's shutdown.
In Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, the Moshannon Valley ICE Detention Center is under scrutiny following the suicide of a 32-year-old Chinese national, Chaofeng Ge, on Tuesday. His death has intensified calls from immigrant rights groups and legal advocates for the facility’s immediate closure.
Commissioner Dave Glass, however, has stated that the county is not planning to terminate the contract with the detention center. He suggests that ending the contract would not stop the operation of the processing center but would significantly hurt Clearfield County financially. Moreover, Commissioner Glass believes that the county has more chance of making sure things are done properly with the contract in place than without it.
The Moshannon Valley ICE Detention Center, operated by the private company GEO Group, has been facing allegations of inhumane and punitive conditions since its reopening under the Biden administration in 2021. These allegations include medical neglect, psychological abuse, solitary confinement for minor infractions, and lack of access to food, water, legal representation, and due process.
Last year, the ACLU filed a federal complaint about the conditions at the detention center, describing them as "alarming and disturbing." A report by Temple University law students and advocacy group Juntos, published in 2024, further documented these conditions.
Despite ICE's own compliance investigation awarding Moshannon a “Superior” rating with zero deficiencies, immigrant advocates remain deeply skeptical. Issues raised include human rights violations, limited legal access and due process violations, use of solitary confinement as punishment for minor infractions, language barriers and discrimination by staff, physical and psychological mistreatment, and concerns regarding private management by GEO Group.
Advocates and legal organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, Legal Services of New Jersey, and the Transnational Legal Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School have formally filed federal complaints alleging unconstitutional and harmful conditions at Moshannon.
Following Chaofeng Ge's death, federal authorities from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency announced an investigation into the incident. Commissioner Glass, however, has clarified that the county is not involved in this investigation and is leaving it to federal officials.
The push to close the Moshannon Valley ICE Detention Center has gained momentum from several groups across the country. Bobbi Erickson, co-founder of the Indivisible: Mayday of Brockport group, stated that "More and more locals are waking up to what’s really happening here." However, it does not seem likely that the detention center will be permanently closed at this time.
References:
- https://www.wesa.fm/news/2024-05-17/temples-juntos-report-documents-alarming-and-disturbing-conditions-at-pa-ice-detention-center
- https://www.wesa.fm/news/2025-08-10/call-to-close-moshannon-valley-ice-detention-center-following-detainees-death
- https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/aclu-files-federal-complaint-over-alarming-and-disturbing-conditions-at-pa-ice
- https://www.aclu.org/news/criminal-law-reform/private-prisons-and-immigrant-detention
- https://www.wesa.fm/news/2025-08-11/ice-announces-investigation-into-moshannon-valley-ice-detention-center-death
- Amidst growing concerns over mental health and wellness, calls for the implementation of better therapies and treatments in the realm of policy and legislation have become increasingly vocal, particularly regarding the treatment of detainees in facilities such as the Moshannon Valley ICE Detention Center.
- In addition to health-and-wellness issues, concerns about crime and justice have surfaced, as allegations of human rights violations and abuse at the Moshannon Valley ICE Detention Center continue to intensify, including reports of solitary confinement, discrimination, and mistreatment.
- General news outlets have been following the controversy surrounding the Moshannon Valley ICE Detention Center, with reports documenting the facility's negative impact on detainees' physical and psychological well-being, as well as criticizing the detention center's private management by GEO Group.
- With the political landscape increasingly focusing on immigration, the death of Chaofeng Ge and the subsequent investigation by federal authorities have added fuel to the fire for advocates pushing for policy changes concerning the conditions at the Moshannon Valley ICE Detention Center and the broader treatment of immigrants.
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