(PHILIPSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA) A 32-year-old Chinese national, Chaofeng Ge, died by suicide on August 5, 2025, while held at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in ICE custody. He was found at 5:21 a.m. and pronounced dead at 6:03 a.m. by the Clearfield County coroner.
Officials say staff started CPR and called emergency services, but Ge died at the scene. He had been detained for five days, awaiting a hearing before the Department of Justice’s immigration court system. A handwritten note was recovered. Authorities have ruled the death a suicide and say they found no evidence of foul play.
Investigations and notifications
Multiple investigations are now underway:
- Pennsylvania State Police
- ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility
- Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General
ICE has notified the Chinese Embassy, Congress, and other stakeholders, and posted a public notice in line with policy.
Background and detention details
Ge’s path to detention began with a January 2025 arrest on charges of:
- Criminal use of a communication facility
- Unlawful use of a computer
- Access device fraud
He pleaded guilty on July 31, 2025, and was transferred to ICE for immigration proceedings. At the time of his death, he was waiting for his first hearing.
The Moshannon Valley Processing Center is:
- Operated by the private GEO Group under contract with Clearfield County and ICE
- The largest immigration jail in the Northeast, with space for up to 1,876 people
Official medical screening policy vs. advocates’ concerns
ICE states that:
- All new detainees receive medical, dental, and mental health screening within 12 hours of arrival
- A full health assessment within 14 days
- Emergency care is available 24/7
Advocates describe a different reality inside Moshannon and call for the facility’s immediate closure and the release of all people held there. Groups voicing concerns include:
- Shut Down Detention Coalition
- Free Migration Project
- ACLU of Pennsylvania
- Detention Watch Network
Their allegations include:
- Medical neglect
- Language isolation that leaves people unable to get help
- Psychological abuse
- Overuse of solitary confinement
Oversight changes and expert findings
- In June 2024, a federal complaint was filed with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) alleging harmful and unconstitutional conditions at Moshannon.
- In March 2025, the CRCL was dismantled, shifting oversight to ICE regional offices.
- Legal and academic experts say that move weakens independent checks.
Researchers documenting patterns at Moshannon include:
- Jennifer Lee (Temple University)
- Sarah Paoletti (University of Pennsylvania)
They report trends such as wrongful solitary confinement and delays or denials of medical care.
County response and public pressure
Clearfield County leaders have expressed condolences but have not committed to ending the county’s contract with GEO Group and ICE. Commissioners say they have not received direct complaints but will visit the facility.
The central question: will growing public pressure change their calculus about the contract and oversight?
Broader trends and reporting concerns
- Ge is the 14th person to die in ICE custody since the start of fiscal year 2025.
- Advocates argue that deaths are undercounted because public reporting can lag or omit details.
- Pennsylvania has seen a surge in ICE detentions this year, with Moshannon taking in most new detainees from the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.
What families can expect after a death in custody
ICE responsibilities and family rights:
- ICE must notify the person’s consulate, Congress, and the public, and publish a detailed report within 90 days.
- Families can request records (including medical files and video), but responses often arrive slowly.
Analysis by VisaVerge.com notes that delays in producing full death reviews have fueled criticism about transparency and accountability across the detention system.
Advocates’ immediate recommendations
Advocates propose immediate steps that could reduce harm:
- Improve language access now
- Phone interpreters available during all medical checks, mental health screenings, and daily operations.
- Written materials (request forms, grievance forms) provided in a person’s first language.
- End punitive solitary confinement for people with mental health needs
- Experts warn isolation can worsen depression and self-harm.
- Increase independent oversight
- With CRCL gone, county officials and state lawmakers should conduct regular, unannounced visits and publish findings.
- Create clear pathways to release for vulnerable people
- People with serious medical or mental health conditions should be considered for parole or bond while their cases proceed.
Practical advice for people supporting detained loved ones
Steps to stay organized and advocate effectively:
- Ask for medical and mental health evaluations in writing and keep copies.
- Request language services for every appointment.
- If someone appears at risk of self-harm, alert facility medical staff in writing and follow up daily.
- Contact outside counsel or legal clinics to review options for release, including parole or bond when available.
Families and attorneys also watch for ICE’s official death report, which should be posted within 90 days on the agency’s detainee death reporting page. That report typically includes timelines, policies applied, and any corrective actions.
Investigation focus and possible outcomes
Investigators will review:
- Camera footage
- Logs and staffing levels
- Medical files and emergency response times
- How intake screenings were done during Ge’s first days
- Whether he asked for help and whether staff followed self-harm prevention rules
Findings could lead to policy changes at Moshannon and possibly at other ICE sites.
Policy friction and human impact
This case highlights friction between official policy and on-the-ground practice:
- ICE maintains that screenings happen within hours and care is continuous.
- Advocates counter that symptoms can be missed, especially with language barriers or fear of speaking up.
- They argue that oversight inside ICE is insufficient and that an outside office (formerly CRCL) played a key role in surfacing problems.
The human cost is hardest to measure: people in detention often feel isolated, especially across language and culture. A short wait for a hearing can feel endless. Small choices—like quick access to an interpreter or a phone call to family—can change outcomes. That is why legal experts and medical professionals urge swift changes even as broader policy debates continue.
What comes next and where to find official information
- Investigations and public reporting remain the immediate focus.
- County leaders, ICE, and the facility operator face pressure to show that lessons are learned and lives are protected.
For official information about detainee deaths, ICE publishes updates on its newsroom and reporting pages. The agency’s Detainee Death Reporting page (ice.gov) posts public reports and statements.
If you reference an immigration form (for release on recognizance or bond), consult your attorney about which form applies; court and ICE bond procedures vary and do not rely on a single standard USCIS form.
Key takeaway: thorough investigations, transparent reporting, improved language access, and independent oversight are central to preventing another death at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center.
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