Clearfield County Commissioner Dave Glass is raising concerns after he says he was denied entry to the Moshannon Valley ICE Processing Center during an unannounced visit.
Glass says he attempted to inspect the facility believing the county’s agreement allows the commissioners to do so without advance notice.
According to Glass, staff told him that ICE policy requires 24-hours’ notice and denied entry to him and others who accompanied him.
Glass says the incident raises serious questions about transparency, oversight and whether it’s worth staying involved with GEO Group.
“I should be clear. This intergovernmental agreement says we can do this, and then they don’t let us do it. What’s the point of having the agreement? What’s our role here? If it’s not to have this oversight, I don’t understand. And that’s why I even feel more strongly now than I did before, that I don’t want to be part of this contract and that we shouldn’t be in the middle of this.”
We attempted to reach out to the GEO Group late Monday afternoon and are still awaiting a response.
In the meantime, Glass says he does not plan on pursuing future, surprise inspections following the incident.