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Residents urge Clearfield County commissioners to publicly oppose GEO Group involvement and demand oversight of local processing center
Summary
Dozens of residents at the July 14 meeting urged the Clearfield County commissioners to record formal disapproval of the GEO Group's operations and to withhold or terminate county support unless the company permits oversight; speakers cited alleged abuse, forced labor suits and urged an emergency proclamation.
At the July 14, 2026 Clearfield County Board of Commissioners meeting, multiple residents urged the board to publicly disapprove of the GEO Group’s operation of the local processing center and to press for oversight or contract termination.
Timothy Smith, who identified himself as a Clearfield County resident and a plaintiff in prior litigation against the county, asked commissioners to “at least say or state or pass an emergency proclamation” recording the county’s disapproval of what he described as imminent GEO/ICE activity. Smith said local governmental disapproval would help opponents in the next phase and argued that local approval could facilitate GEO’s progress with federal partners.
Several other speakers described alleged conditions inside the facility and urged action. Chelsea Sweet said she brought a petition with “hundreds of signatures” and argued the county should demand access and oversight if any contract is renewed; citing material she attributed to GEO and ICE, Sweet said “87 percent of detainees have never committed any type of crime,” and asked the board to consider ending the contract in September. Bob Hudson said GEO is a private operator paid on a per-person basis and raised concerns about overcrowding and health issues. Elizabeth Shuster referenced prior litigation and alleged forced labor and coercion at GEO facilities, including a 2014 suit involving GEO’s Aurora, Colorado facility.
Bobby Yars and William Pasmaya relayed accounts from detainees and family members who, they said, feared retaliation and transfers if they spoke publicly. Melissa Wyant warned the board of reputational risk and urged commissioners to publicly state disapproval, saying renewal of a GEO contract could draw national scrutiny.
The public-comment period ended with no formal action taken on the GEO Group matter during the meeting. Chair closed public comment and the board moved on to old and new business. Commissioners did not vote on a proclamation, did not announce a plan for immediate oversight steps in the meeting record, and scheduled an executive session later in the morning to discuss legal and contract matters.
The most recent development recorded in the meeting was that the public-comment portion concluded and the board proceeded to appointments and contract approvals; commissioners did not vote on a public-disapproval proclamation during this session.
