Clearfield commissioners to vote on Moshannon detention center contract

The Clearfield County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to vote on a six-month contract extension for the Moshannon Valley Processing Center, the largest immigration detention facility in the Northeast. The current five-year agreements between the county, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the private contractor GEO Group are set to expire in late September.

Under the current arrangement, the county serves as an intermediary and receives $200,000 annually. The proposed extension would modify the staffing plan and change the contracting officer, but all other terms remain the same. The facility has faced criticism from advocates regarding healthcare, food quality, and living conditions.

Commissioner Dave Glass has announced he will vote against the extension, citing opposition to federal immigration policies and concerns regarding the behavior of ICE officers. He noted that while he initially supported the arrangement in 2021, he now regrets that decision.