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Residents urge Clearfield County to hold GEO Group accountable after detainee’s medical plea
Summary
Clearfield County residents reading testimony from a detained man and other speakers urged commissioners to hold GEO Group and ICE accountable for alleged medical neglect at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center and called for termination of the county’s contract; commissioners said no contract action was before them and made no immediate policy change.
Residents urged Clearfield County commissioners on Monday to intervene after a public comment speaker read a statement from a detainee alleging worsening kidney disease and delayed testing at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center.
Sherilyn Sheets, identifying herself as a Clearfield resident and taxpayer, read a statement from a man she named as Izzy Ali, who she said was diagnosed with stage 3B kidney failure. "No treatment was given to me whatsoever when clear blood was spotted while using the restroom," Sheets read. She said facility staff had refused to conduct blood tests needed for a nephrologist’s follow-up and pleaded: "Please do something. Don't let people die in silence."
Tony DeRazio, a Graham Township resident and chair of the Clearfield County Libertarian Party, recounted the detained man's background and called on the Board to "hold GEO Group accountable" and "terminate the county contract with ICE and GEO Group," saying detainees face poor conditions and high costs to taxpayers. "It's millions of dollars per year that the taxpayers are spending," DeRazio said while urging county action.
Heather Ashton, a Clearfield County resident, told commissioners she has stopped spending money in the county and said she would "continue to be in the way of this facility" if the county renews its relationship with the contractor. Sam Mosher and other speakers criticized a decision to give county residents priority for public comment and said the Moshannon facility raises regional and national concerns that affect nonresident advocates.
County officials repeatedly told the room the Board had no agenda item related to the ICE contract and that closing or changing operations at the facility is not within the Board's immediate authority. Meeting leaders also said they would enforce public-comment rules to prevent disruption and that the board would consider revisiting the matter if placed on a future agenda.
No motion or formal action related to the Moshannon facility or any contract with GEO Group was taken during the meeting; the Board moved on to its scheduled business after the public-comment period.
