ICE Denies Entry to U.S. Reps. Amid Concerns Over Immigration Detention Conditions

Strategic Insights -

Pennsylvania congressional representatives Mary Gay Scanlon and Summer Lee were denied entry to the Moshannon Valley Processing Center, a privately operated immigration detention facility in Clearfield County, citing orders from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kris Kobach to prevent oversight visits. The center has faced allegations of inhumane conditions, inadequate medical and mental health care, and inadequate access to food. Scanlon has expressed concerns that these conditions may be affecting constituents from her suburban Philadelphia district, who are being held in the center.

Key Takeaways:

  • U.S. Reps. Mary Gay Scanlon and Summer Lee were denied entry to the Moshannon Valley Processing Center, sparking concerns over immigration detention conditions.
  • The privately operated facility has faced allegations of inhumane conditions, inadequate medical and mental health care, and inadequate access to food.
  • SCANLON said she was told by ICE officials that they were under orders not to allow her to conduct an oversight visit, citing an instruction from DHS Secretary Kris Kobach.
  • Scanlon expressed concerns that the conditions in the facility may be affecting constituents from her suburban Philadelphia district.
  • The facility is operated by private company GEO Group, which operates 97 facilities, including one in Newark where U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver was denied entry in May.
  • The Biden-era ban on for-profit prisons was circumvented by the arrangement between Clearfield County and ICE.
  • The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, Legal Services of New Jersey, and the University of Pennsylvania law school filed a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security, which has not been resolved.
  • The Sheller Center for Social Justice at Temple University Beasley School of Law and the immigrant rights group Juntos released a report last year based on interviews with 70 people held at Moshannon Valley, calling for the center to be closed.
  • Scanlon said congressional oversight is more important than ever, given the Trump administration's "rampant ramp up" of deportation and the Republican budget reconciliation bill adding $45 billion to ICE's budget.

Statistics:

  • The Moshannon Valley Processing Center has been reported to house between 1,200 and 1,700 people.
  • GEO Group operates 97 facilities, including the one in Newark where LaMonica McIver was denied entry.
  • The Republican budget reconciliation bill adds $45 billion to ICE's budget.
  • There are 70 people who were interviewed by the Sheller Center for Social Justice at Temple University Beasley School of Law and the immigrant rights group Juntos for their report on Moshannon Valley.

Sources:

  • American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania (https://www.aclupa.org/news/why-we-filed-federal-complaint-over-unnecessary-and-cruel-immigration-detention-moshannon/#:~:text=That's%20why%20ACLU%2DPA%20teamed,are%20not%20unique%20to%20Moshannon.)
  • U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (https://penncapital-star.com/donate/?oa_referrer=midstorybox)
  • U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (https://www.npr.org/2025/06/11/g-s1-72175/mciver-indicted-federal-charges-immigration-new-jersey)
  • The Sheller Center for Social Justice at Temple University Beasley School of Law (https://penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-social-justice/report-describes-inhumane-conditions-in-pennsylvanias-largest-immigration-detention-center/)
  • Juntos (https://penncapital-star.com/subscribe)