(YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA) A 32-year-old Chinese national, Chaofeng Ge, died by suicide on August 5, 2025, after five days in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. He had pleaded guilty in Pennsylvania and was transferred through ICE’s York sub-office before being held at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center.
Officials say Ge was awaiting an immigration hearing when staff found him unresponsive. His case has renewed questions about detention in and around York County and care inside large facilities.
What happened and when
- January 2025: Lower Paxton Township Police arrested Chaofeng Ge for criminal use of a communication facility, unlawful use of a computer, and access device fraud tied to stolen credit card numbers.
- July 31, 2025: Ge pleaded guilty to accessing a device issued to another without authorization and conspiracy to commit the same crime. He received six to 12 months for each count and was released to an ICE detainer immediately after sentencing.
- ICE Philadelphia’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) York sub-office took custody, processed him at the York ICE office, and transferred him to the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Clearfield County.
- August 5, 2025: Staff found Ge hanging by the neck and unresponsive in the pod shower room at Moshannon. The Clearfield County coroner pronounced him dead at about 6:03 a.m. The death was ruled a suicide, and investigators found no foul play.
ICE said he had been in custody for only five days and was waiting for a hearing before the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review.
The facility and rising concerns
The Moshannon Valley Processing Center is the largest immigration detention center in the Northeast, with 1,876 beds, and is operated by Geo Group Inc. under contract with Clearfield County. After Ge’s death, immigrant rights groups renewed calls to close the facility, saying detainees face poor medical care and excessive solitary confinement.
County commissioners said they were saddened but have not moved to end the contract, noting they lacked concrete complaints. ICE has stated that detainees receive medical and mental health care and that all deaths in custody are investigated.
Important: Advocates highlight concerns about mental health screening, suicide prevention in housing units, and transparency around transfers and care at large, remote facilities.
York County’s current role
- York County Prison ended ICE detention in 2021, citing budget and contract issues. York County no longer holds ICE detainees.
- Despite that, ICE’s York sub-office remains active for arrests and processing. People taken into custody in the area are now transferred elsewhere—often to Moshannon Valley or other facilities—while their cases move forward.
This distinction matters for families searching for loved ones or records. The county does not run an immigration detention center, but ICE activity continues in the region.
About the “$25,000 scam” claim
Public records tied to Ge’s case describe fraud involving stolen credit card numbers. The exact figure of $25,000 does not appear in the latest available reports.
Likewise, as of August 11, 2025, there is no public record confirming that two individuals from Asia were deported from York County in a case matching that amount. What is confirmed: Ge pleaded guilty, entered ICE custody on a detainer, and died before his immigration hearing.
What families should know about the process
When a person finishes a criminal case and ICE lodges a detainer, the person may be moved to ERO custody for removal proceedings. Typical steps include:
- DHS issues a Notice to Appear (
<a href="https://www.uscis.gov/forms/all-forms/notice-to-appear">Form I-862</a>), which starts the removal case. You can read the official form description at: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/all-forms/notice-to-appear - The person waits for an immigration hearing with the Department of Justice’s immigration courts (EOIR).
- If an immigration judge issues a final order, the person may consider an appeal using EOIR-26 (Notice of Appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals). The official form is at: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/639716/download
If you need to contact the local ICE field office for case questions in this region, use ICE ERO Philadelphia (which oversees the York sub-office): https://www.ice.gov/field-office/ero/philadelphia
For tips or urgent reports, ICE’s tip line is 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423).
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, cases like Ge’s show how fast criminal and immigration systems can connect, and how families often need clear, quick information during transfers and hearing scheduling.
Wider enforcement picture in Pennsylvania
ICE continued active enforcement in Pennsylvania in 2025. Operations include arrests of immigration violators and people with criminal convictions. For example, in June 2025, agents arrested 17 people without status during a worksite action in Bethlehem.
In line with national policy, Pennsylvania operations focus on criminal offenders and immigration violators, including those tied to fraud.
Why this case resonates
Deaths in custody shake public trust. In Ge’s case, several factors stand out:
- He had been held only five days before his death.
- He was awaiting an EOIR hearing, not yet removed from the United States.
- The facility is large and remote, making family contact and attorney access harder for many.
Advocates call for more transparency on mental health screening, suicide prevention practices, and how transfers happen after guilty pleas. Local officials weigh those concerns against contracts that bring county revenue and jobs.
Practical steps for people in similar situations
- Keep copies of all court papers and the A-number (Alien Registration Number). Share them with family or counsel.
- Ask for the
Form I-862and check hearing details. If a hearing decision goes against you, talk to an attorney about EOIR-26 appeal deadlines and filing. - If a loved one is transferred from York County processing, ask ERO where the person is headed and how to send legal mail.
- For hearing status, contact the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review through its published channels. Keep track of future court dates.
What comes next
Calls to close or reform the Moshannon Valley Processing Center may grow if more problems appear. County leaders say they are watching conditions and complaints. ICE activity in and around York County will continue, even without detention at the county prison. Policy choices about contracts and oversight will shape how safely and fairly people wait for immigration hearings.
Key takeaways
- Confirmed: Chaofeng Ge, 32, pleaded guilty on July 31, 2025, was transferred through the York ICE sub-office, and died by suicide at Moshannon Valley Processing Center on August 5, 2025.
- York County Prison no longer detains ICE cases; detainees are moved to other facilities.
- The reported $25,000 figure and “two individuals from Asia” deported in York County do not match public records beyond Ge’s case.
- Families should secure the
Form I-862, track EOIR hearings, and consider EOIR-26 if appealing an immigration judge’s decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
A fast-moving custody case raised urgent questions about detention care. Chaofeng Ge pleaded guilty July 31, 2025, entered ICE custody, and died August 5, 2025, at Moshannon Valley. Advocates demand transparency, suicide prevention, and better mental-health screening while officials review contracts and maintain investigations into all deaths in custody.
