We the People Wednesdays Action for June 3
ACTION 1:
The Moshannon Valley Detention Center is a for-profit ICE detention facility operated by GEO Group. Reports of mistreatment, inadequate medical care, retaliation, and lack of transparency have raised serious concerns. At least 3 detainees have died there. Moshannon is the largest immigration detention center in the Northeastern United States and is located about 40 miles west of Penn State. Hidden from public view and far from many families, approximately 1,800 people are reportedly detained in overcrowded and unhealthy conditions, and the vast majority have no prior criminal charges. Clearfield County receives $200,000 annually for its role as the local contracting authority — a role that gives county commissioners the power to end the arrangement entirely.
Write Clearfield County Commissioners asking them to not renew GEO group’s contract. Adapt this sample text:
Dear Commissioner XXX,
Moshannon is an embarrassment to Clearfield County and all of Pennsylvania. Please don’t renew GEO Group’s contract.
Sincerely,
<your name and zip>
Commissioner John Sobel
212 East Locust St.
Clearfield PA 19830
Commissioner Tim Winters
212 East Locust St.
Clearfield PA 19830
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ACTION 2:
In February, the Washington Post told the story of a 67-year-old retiree named Jon who had emailed a Homeland Security prosecutor to urge mercy for an Afghan seeking asylum. Five hours later, Jon received a notice from Google that DHS had requested information from his account. Then Homeland Security investigators showed up at his suburban Philadelphia home to interview him about the email. The Subpoena Abuse Prevention Act is a bipartisan bill to restrict federal agencies from obtaining customer communications and phone records without judicial oversight.
Write to our Senators to support this bill. Adapt this sample text:
Dear Senator XXX,
Please support S.4594 to prohibit federal abuses in obtaining citizens’ phone and Internet records.
Sincerely,
<your name and zip>
Senator John Fetterman
142 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Senator Dave McCormick
SH-702 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510