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Mining industry

Protests Against Moshannon Valley ICE Detention Center Amidst Allegations of Abuse

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Early on a Sunday morning, members of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) gathered in a parking lot in East Liberty to embark on a journey to Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, an old coal mining town in Central Pennsylvania. Their destination was the Moshannon Valley Processing Center, an ICE facility operated by the private prison contractor GEO Group. The facility, the largest ICE center in the Northeastern United States, has a history of inhumane conditions, with 147 immigrants locked in solitary confinement per month, nearly twice the national average. The harsh conditions led to the tragic death of detainee Chaofeng Ge in 2025.

Upon arrival, the protest group, supported by hundreds of others from across the state, found themselves in a complex situation. Trump supporters, while some waved Mexican flags in solidarity, others jeered at the protestors. Nonetheless, the rally continued, with the group visiting the Cold Stream Dam and Memorial Park, a picturesque lakeside setting in the mountains.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Moshannon Valley Processing Center has a grim record, with 147 immigrants per month locked in solitary confinement, nearly twice the national average.
  • Protests against the facility have sparked a debate in Philipsburg, with some townspeople opposing out-of-town activists, while others support their cause.
  • Local residents, including 87-year-old Democrat Councilman Luther Gette, have spoken out against the facility, citing the need for jobs but also the need to address allegations of abuse.
  • Activists, including Jamie Martinez from Casa San Jose, have described the inhumane conditions within the facility, including detainees being held for weeks without any prison official speaking to them.
  • Members of Congress, including Congresswoman Summer Lee of Pittsburgh, have been denied entry to the facility, highlighting the PHP administration's executive overreach.
  • Polls show that Americans increasingly disapprove of Trump's immigration policies, with a 27-point disapproval rating.
  • Local townspeople who worked in the ICE detention facility have contacted Lee's Congressional office, expressing their concern over the conditions and some even quitting their jobs.

Statistics:

  • 147 immigrants are locked in solitary confinement per month at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center.
  • The national average for an ICE facility is roughly 75 immigrants per month.
  • The facility has a higher suicide rate, with one detainee, Chaofeng Ge, taking his own life in 2025.
  • There are currently 7 members of the Philipsburg town council, only one of whom, Luther Gette, is a Democrat.
  • Congresswoman Summer Lee's office has received reports of local townspeople quitting their jobs at the facility due to the inhumane conditions.
  • The Gallup poll shows a 27-point disapproval rating of Trump's immigration approach.

Sources:

  • The Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL)
  • Casa San Jose
  • Congresswoman Summer Lee's office
  • The Gallup poll (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/11/trump-immigration-crackdown-poll-00448342)
  • Clearfield County Commissioner John Sobel's defense of the facility (https://local21news.com/news/local/clearfield-county-finds-no-issues-moshannon-valley-ice-center-after-detainees-death-activists-immigration-commissioners-pennsylvania)

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