U.S. Representatives Mary Gay Scanlon and Summer Lee were denied entry to the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania, a federal detention facility, as concerns mount over detainee conditions following a recent death. Scanlon attempted to visit the site on Wednesday, March 15, 2025, just two days after Lee faced the same rejection. Both lawmakers aimed to assess conditions within the facility, particularly in light of the death of Chaofeng Ge, a 32-year-old Chinese national suspected of suicide.
Scanlon and Lee, both Democrats from Pennsylvania, reported waiting approximately one hour before being turned away. Scanlon expressed her disappointment in a statement, emphasizing the importance of transparency regarding the treatment of detainees. “As we continue to hear stories of inhumane conditions within this facility and others across the country, it is our duty as federal representatives to shed light on how taxpayer dollars are being spent,” she stated.
Concerns regarding the treatment of detainees have escalated since Ge’s death earlier this month. Reports indicate that he was found hanging in his cell, raising alarms about the adequacy of mental health resources and supervision within the facility. In response, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) asserted its commitment to ensuring safe and humane environments for detainees, noting that comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive.
Scanlon highlighted her ongoing concerns regarding inadequate medical services and nutrition at the facility, citing persistent reports from detainees, including those from her district. The Moshannon Valley Processing Center is a primary holding site for individuals arrested by ICE in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions.
The rejections of Scanlon and Lee follow a series of similar incidents under the administration of former President Donald Trump, where lawmakers have been barred from entering ICE facilities. In a letter to ICE officials, Scanlon referenced her statutory right as a member of Congress to conduct oversight visits, requesting a formal response regarding her denied entry. Despite presenting relevant statutes and a letter outlining her intentions, facility supervisors reiterated the denial based on orders from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
In a related incident, Lee attempted an oversight visit on March 13, 2025, alongside Yannick Gill, senior counsel of refugee advocacy at Human Rights First. They, too, were informed after a lengthy wait that they would not be permitted entry. Lee described the incident as indicative of the administration’s “executive overreach,” while Gill criticized the lack of transparency, stating, “Blocking sitting members of Congress from entering a detention facility not only violates the Constitution, but should call the public to question what is happening behind these walls.”
The ongoing pattern of restrictions on congressional access to federal detention facilities raises significant concerns about accountability and oversight in the treatment of detainees. As the dialogue surrounding immigration policy evolves, lawmakers will likely continue to seek clarity and reform to ensure the humane treatment of individuals in custody.
