More than 300 protesters gathered in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, on March 15, 2025, to oppose the Moshannon Valley Processing Center and its operator, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The facility, which has a capacity of 1,876 detainees, is the largest immigration detention center in the Northeast. Demonstrators assembled at Cold Stream Dam along Route 322, approximately ten minutes from the detention center, while another group convened at Philipsburg Memorial Park, across from the borough office.
Organizers called for the Clearfield County Commissioners to take action by terminating their contract with ICE. Megan Guidi, an organizer with Pittsburgh Women for Democracy, emphasized that the facility has faced multiple lawsuits from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) due to allegations of poor living conditions, including high rates of solitary confinement. “We’d like to see people back in their homes, in their communities, working their jobs, living with their families,” Guidi stated.
Many attendees traveled from cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, with some local residents joining the protest. Rose De La Luz, another event organizer, noted that many participants funded their own travel to Philipsburg. “A lot of people paid for their own ticket, their own bus ticket, to be down here,” she explained. Donations were also collected to assist those unable to afford the trip.
The event featured a speaker who addressed common criticisms regarding paid protests, prompting the crowd to respond defiantly. One protester exclaimed, “I hate Trump for free,” highlighting the grassroots nature of the gathering.
De La Luz shared her personal connection to the issue, revealing that her cousin has been detained at the center for nearly five months. She recounted her unsuccessful attempts to visit him, with her most recent effort occurring just a day prior to the protest. “He kept calling me every hour yesterday, just waiting to see how far in line I was to be able to get access to him,” she recounted emotionally. “At the end, he called me and was like, ‘Hey, you weren’t able to make it.’ I was like, ‘No,’ and I explained to him what had happened. And then he broke and I broke.”
Despite the challenges, De La Luz expressed her determination to continue advocating for her cousin’s release, noting that he has legal representation working on his case. “Look around us, you know, we’re not alone,” she said. “We’re fighting with a bigger community.”
The protest followed a smaller demonstration in the State College area earlier in the week, where immigrant rights groups reported that ICE had arrested 26 immigrants on their way to work in Centre County. The Moshannon Valley Processing Center faced renewed scrutiny earlier this month after the death of a 32-year-old Chinese man in ICE custody, which Pennsylvania State Police ruled a suicide.
The protest reflects growing public concern about ICE operations. According to a recent PBS News/NPR/Marist poll, a majority of Americans believe that ICE actions have “gone too far.” This sentiment contrasts sharply with statements made by former President Donald Trump, who campaigned on a platform of mass deportation, claiming that “these are really dangerous people” during a rally in State College.
As the rally concluded, participants expressed a collective resolve to continue advocating for justice and reform within the immigration system. The demonstrators emphasized their commitment to addressing the humanitarian issues associated with detention centers like the Moshannon Valley Processing Center, fostering solidarity among diverse groups united in their cause.