# Trump's Mass Detention Machine in Pennsylvania

> Pennsylvania's largest immigration center holds 1,600 immigrants daily while local officials defend it as a job provider.
- Title: Trump's Mass Detention Machine in Pennsylvania · Mother Jones
- Summary: Pennsylvania's largest immigration center holds 1,600 immigrants daily while local officials defend it as a job provider. Pennsylvania's Moshannon Valley…
- Keywords: moshannon valley processing center, geogroup, pennsylvania, ice, immigration detention, clearfield county, philipsburg, detention center, immigrant detention, voluntary departure, asylum seekers, detention facilities
- Source: Mother Jones — https://motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/trump-ice-detention-philipsburg-pennsylvania-immigration-deportation-geo-group-mvpc
- Author: Greg Constantine
- Published: 2026-09-29T06:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: moshannon valley processing center, geogroup, pennsylvania, ice, immigration detention, clearfield county, philipsburg, detention center, immigrant detention, voluntary departure, asylum seekers, detention facilities
## Philipsburg sign
A sign greets passersby with a weeping Statue of Liberty on US Route 322.
## Philipsburg economy
Philipsburg's economy relied on timber, industry, and coal until GEO Group became its only employer.
## Moshannon facility
Moshannon Valley Correctional Facility opened in 2006 as a federal prison and became an immigration detention center in 2021.
## Detention scale
Over 1,600 immigrants are detained daily at Moshannon Valley Processing Center, 85% with no criminal record.
## Detention deaths
Two immigrants died in ICE custody at Moshannon Valley Processing Center in 2025, including Chaofeng Ge.
## Local support
A local resident says the facility provides jobs and keeps immigrants from leaving the town.

> When jobs are lost, that place provides something for people here. If they don’t put immigrants here, they’ll find somewhere else. Keep the jobs here.
## County benefits
Clearfield County receives $200,000 annually for serving as a middleman for federal funds.
## State policy
Pennsylvania ranks fifth nationally in 287(g) agreements for ICE cooperation.
## GEO revenue
GEO earned nearly $90 million from Moshannon Valley Processing Center from January 2025 to May 2026.
## ICE contracts
ICE signed a 5-year agreement with Clearfield County to manage Moshannon Valley Processing Center.
## Detention impact
Charlotte sold everything to move to Maryland to be closer to her husband detained in Moshannon Valley Processing Center.

> I’m a US citizen and I have a child. They want us to be left with nothing.
## Family separation
A father and son were detained together but separated by ICE during a routine check-in.

> They’re in there for a reason. They didn’t take them because they didn’t do nothing.
## Detention conditions
Immigrants face solitary confinement and lack of legal representation in Moshannon Valley Processing Center.

> They put him on major depression medication, but he started losing his emotions.
## Local opposition
Activists and community members push to end the Moshannon Valley Processing Center contract with GEO Group.

> I come here today with a broken heart. My plan for today was to have somebody from Moshannon call and give his testimony.
## Detention expansion
ICE is expanding detention capacity by purchasing facilities from GEO Group's competitors.

> ICE has spent more than $2.2 billion to directly purchase existing detention facilities from GEO Group’s competitor, CoreCivic.
## Contract extension
Clearfield County approved a 6-month extension of the Moshannon Valley Processing Center contract with GEO Group.

> In a 2-1 vote, Clearfield County Commissioner approved the extension.
## Key takeaway

Pennsylvania's Moshannon Valley Processing Center detains 1,600 immigrants daily with 85% having no criminal record, while local officials claim it provides jobs.