1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

I am a Pennsylvania resident writing to demand immediate Senate intervention regarding conditions at Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Clearfield County, operated by GEO Group under contract with ICE. Multiple detainee accounts, recorded tapes, legal clinic reporting, and investigative journalism describe abuse, retaliation, medical neglect, contaminated food, and systemic failure. These are not vague complaints; they are specific allegations that require federal oversight, evidence preservation, and independent investigation. As U.S. Senators, you have both oversight and appropriations leverage over DHS and the federal detention system. Pennsylvania should not host a facility repeatedly associated with allegations of dehumanizing conditions while elected officials offer platitudes or hide behind inspection headlines. When federal detention is carried out in our state, the responsibility to demand compliance with basic standards is not optional. A Longstanding Pattern of Violations at Moshannon Valley (Selected Timeline) • 2011–2012 — DOJ findings after catastrophic injury to Timothy Helms Source: Centre Daily Times (DOJ findings summary) • 2013–2016 — Chronic medical neglect and delayed treatment Sources: Prison Legal News • ACLU PA • 2017–2019 — Retaliation for grievances and unsanitary conditions Sources: PICC • NIJC • 2020 — COVID 19 outbreaks and failure to implement mitigation Sources: ACLU PA • Detention Watch Network • 2021 — Closure of the federal prison amid longstanding concerns Sources: WPSU/NPR • PICC/ACLU PA • 2022–2023 — Immediate complaints after ICE reopening Sources: TribLIVE • Pennsylvania Capital Star • 2023 — Staff misconduct and failures of ICE inspections Sources: Detention Watch Network • NIJC Actions I Am Demanding From Your Office • Send a joint oversight letter to DHS/ICE demanding immediate answers, preservation of evidence, and disclosure of inspections, corrective actions, and complaint data for Moshannon • Request a DHS OIG investigation and ask for a briefing to your office on the status, scope, and timeline • Press for independent, unannounced monitoring and public reporting as a condition for continued detention operations at Moshannon • Use appropriations and oversight tools to require DHS/ICE to demonstrate compliance with detention standards, medical care requirements, grievance protections, and anti-retaliation safeguards • Provide Pennsylvania constituents a written response stating what actions your office will take and when the public will see results Respond within 14 days with a written statement confirming what actions you have taken and the responses you have received from DHS/ICE. If federal officials and contractors are allowed to operate without consequences, then elected officials are participating in the outcome. I am asking you to prove—quickly and publicly—that this is not what Pennsylvania will accept.