Moshannon Valley Processing Center

Immigration Court

For information about a matter before the immigration court, you may call 1-800-898-7180 to speak with them directly. Applications for relief from removal and other applications requested by the immigration judge must be filed directly with the immigration court.

Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)

For information about a matter before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), you may call (703) 605-1007 where you can obtain automated information or speak with a live representative during office hours.

Click the link for a list of pro bono representatives nationwide who might be able to assist you.

To Post a Delivery Bond

Delivery bonds are posted when a person has been taken into ICE custody and placed into removal proceedings while in the United States.

Post a Bond

You must have the last name of the detainee and alien registration number before calling. Acceptable forms of payment to post a bond are money orders, cashier’s checks or certified checks. For all bonds $5,000 and over, the only accepted method of payment is a single cashier or certified check. Payments must be made payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” or “Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”

Submitting a G-28

G-28s filed on behalf of detained aliens at this facility can now be accepted through the online platform ERO eFile. Facility staff will not have access to ERO eFile at this time; legal representatives should download copies of their submitted G-28 for any in-person or remote legal visit.

Sending Non-Confidential Messages to Detained Aliens 

This facility has ICE Talton Tablets. You can access information on how to send a non-confidential message at www.gettingout.com/help.

Other Legal Access Related Communications

Requests for case information pertaining to aliens detained at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center be sent to Philadelphia.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov. Please note that this mailbox does not accept applications for Stay of Removal or Case Appeals.

Contacting the Deportation Officer

To ascertain the identity of your client’s Deportation Officer, contact Philadelphia.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov to obtain that information. Please note that a G-28 must be on file for any information to be disclosed.

Requesting a Legal Phone Call or Video Visit With Your Client

Attorneys requesting a legal phone call or video visit with their client can schedule that through schedulemvpc@geogroup.com or calling (814) 768-1200.

Friends and Family Visits

Friends and Family Visits are conducted seven (7) days a week; 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Visit sessions will normally be a minimum of two hours, dependent upon the number of visitors and staff availability. More time may be authorized by the Staff Duty Officer for family members traveling significant distances. A maximum of two adults (18 years or older) and two children (17 years or younger) may visit at any one time. Any disruptive behavior by either party will result in the termination of the visit and may cause future visits to be denied. Visitors who bring children are expected to maintain direct supervision of those children and prevent disruption to other visitors.

Visitors are not permitted to carry personal items into the visiting area. Numbered keys are provided at the entrance of the facility to secure those items into a locker.

No adult visitor shall be admitted without positive identification, such as a driver's license or other government issued photo identification.

MVPC does allow minor visitation. Minors will remain under the direct supervision of an adult visitor, so not to disturb other visitors. Disruptive conduct by minors, accompanying adults or detainees may cause termination of the visit.

MVPC has established and maintains a dress code for visitors; it shall be freely available to the public.

• Female Visitors Age 12 and Older
  • Skirts and dresses shall extend to knee, seated.
  • Slits in skirts and dresses shall rise no higher than knee, seated.
  • Sheer (see-through) clothing is prohibited.
  • The top of clothing shall be no lower than the underarm in the front and back. Bare midriffs and strapless tops, tube tops, and swimsuits are prohibited. Tight fitting clothing is prohibited. Undergarments with underwires are prohibited.
  • Shoes shall be worn at all times. Open-toed shoes are prohibited.
  • Gang "colors" and other gang displays are prohibited.
  • No shorts will be allowed.
  • Pants with holes are not allowed.
• Male Visitors Age 12 and Older
  • Shirts shall be worn at all times. Muscle shirts, bare midriff shirts and sleeveless shirts are prohibited.
  • Shoes shall be worn at all times. Open-toed shoes are prohibited

Attorney Visits

Legal representatives of detainees are authorized to visit their clients in person during the following hours:

6 a.m. – 9 p.m. EST
Seven days a week

A list of pro bono (free) legal organizations will be posted in all detainee housing units and other appropriate areas. This list shall be updated quarterly. If a detainee wishes to see a representative or paralegal from that organization, it is the detainee’s responsibility to contact them for an appointment.

Video Teleconferencing

Legal representatives may request video teleconference (VTC) meetings or confidential legal phone calls with their clients or prospective clients by email at schedulemvpc@geogroup.com. The FIPC court officers will email back with a confirmed date and time. Please see the flyer for details.

The email should include:

• Legal representative’s full name
• Legal representative’s contact information, including phone number(s), and email address
• Detainee’s name
• Detainee’s alien number
• A few proposed times/dates for the requested VTC session
• A scan of the legal representative’s government issued identification
• A scan of the legal representative’s identification or documentation reflecting their status as an active legal representative, such as a state bar card, attorney license, paralegal license, or similar legal status.
• A scan of the attorney’s DHS Form G-28 (unless this is a pre-representational)
• If a legal assistant is the only legal representative to join the call, the email should also attach a letter of authorization on the firm’s/organization’s letterhead and a scan of the assistant’s identification.

Legal representatives may also schedule VTC meetings or calls by dialing (814) 768-1200 for the court room officer responsible for scheduling.

All appointments for VTC meetings or phone calls should be made 24 hours prior to the desired appointment time. Legal counsel can request a VTC/VAV by emailing schedulemvpc@geogroup.com. Appointments are available Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. EST.

The same guidelines for in-person attorney/client visits will apply to VTC meetings and legal calls. Only legal representatives, legal assistants, and interpreters will be allowed; no family or friends of the clients are permitted. The attorney and/or his/her agents may contact outside interpretation services during the call or session. The sessions will be confidential; a visitation officer will be stationed outside of the confidential room to ensure security by standing out of earshot but within eyeshot. The officer will knock 5 minutes before the cut off time.

Please be advised that legal representatives and their staff are not permitted to video or audio record during any virtual or in-person visit or any call with aliens at the facility. Any violation of these rules may result in suspension or a permanent revocation of VAV user privileges.

Legal Calls or Video Communications Over Tablets

This facility has ICE Talton tablets, which have video visitation capabilities. Legal representatives can register on GettingOut.com for a Friends and Family Account. After registering for an account, legal representatives should email ICESupport@talton.com to provide their email address and telephone number to ensure their communications are not recorded or monitored.

Electronic Exchange of Legal Documentation

When timely communication through the mail is not possible, the facility administrator may, in his discretion, allow for a reasonable amount of electronic written communication by means between the detained alien and their designated legal representative.

Faxes/Emails Sent by Legal Representatives to the Attention of Detained Aliens 

Legal representatives can send legal correspondence to scheduleMVPC@geogroup.com or via fax at (814) 342-5900. Legal Representatives should make clear in the subject line that it is legal correspondence/mail and include as an attachment the specific documents/forms that the legal representative wants the facility to deliver to the detained alien. Within the email the legal representative should include the following information and a cover sheet for the attachment that includes the:

• Alien full name
• A-Number
• Sender’s return fax number
• Total number of pages sent
• Notate the correspondence is “Legal Mail”

The documents will be inspected for contraband, but not read. The legal mail will be delivered to the detainee. All legal electronic communication requests will be processed during normal business hours Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST, excluding holidays.

Consular Visits

Consular officials may meet with their detained nationals at any time. It is requested that prior arrangements be made with the ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer to the extent possible, and that consular officials bring appropriate credentials when they come to the facility. The ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer for this facility can be reached at Philadelphia.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov.

Clergy Visits

Clergy may visit detainees at any time but must make prior arrangements with the Chaplain’s Office.

Visiting Restrictions

• No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted in the facility.
• If visitors are or appear to be intoxicated, visitation will not be allowed.
• All visitors are subject to search while in the facility.
• Visitors are not allowed to pass or attempt to pass any items to detainees.
• Visitors are not allowed to carry any items into the visitation area.
• Please be advised that undergarments with an underwire are not allowed in the facility.

Search Procedures (prior to or during all visitations)

All individuals requesting admittance to the facility or the visitation area are subject to a pat-down search of their person, an inspection of their belongings, and a metal scan search. Individuals refusing to cooperate with a reasonable search will not be admitted. No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios, etc.) are permitted in the secure areas of this facility.

Letters sent to detainees must include the last four digits of the detainee’s A-number (File Number), plus the sender’s name and address. To enhance the safety of the facility, all incoming mail is subject to screening for contraband. The mail is not read upon opening, only inspected by the delivering officer. Detainees may send mail from the facility. Detainees may seal their outgoing letters and place them in the provided receptacle. All incoming mail will be delivered to the detainee, and outgoing mail will be routed to the proper postal office within 24 hours of receipt by facility staff. A mail pick-up and delivery schedule is posted in all housing units.

Detainees are allowed to purchase stamps for use. Generally, there is no limit to the amount of correspondence detainees may send at their own expense. Indigent detainees (those who have no means of financial support and no funds in their facility account) will be provided postage allowance at government expense.

When detainees depart the facility or are transferred to another facility, only their legal mail will be forwarded to them. General correspondence will be endorsed "Return to Sender" and returned to the post office.

Money is not to be given directly to the detainee. Money can be placed on the detainee's account by calling Access Corrections at 1-866-345-1884, or via website www.accesscorrections.com or via United States Postal Service, Moshannon Valley Processing Center, 555 GEO Drive, Philipsburg, PA 16866 and reference detainee name on money order.

If detainees receive funds in the mail, they will be taken to the processing area for the money to be placed into their account. The processing officer will provide a receipt for all funds received. Detainees are cautioned not to have cash sent to them in the mail.

Detainee property is NOT accepted through the mail. Any property for the purpose of removal must be brought to the facility in person. Detainees are allowed one small piece of property under 40lbs. The size of the property should be equal to a carry-on sized luggage on an aircraft.

The facility has a responsibility to protect the privacy and other rights of detainees and members of the staff. Therefore, interviews will be regulated to ensure the orderly and safe operation of the facility. Ordinarily, live television or radio interviews will not be permitted in the facility. For media inquiries about ICE activities, operations, or policies, contact the ICE Office of Public Affairs at ICEMedia@ice.dhs.gov.

Personal Interviews

A news media representative who desires to conduct an interview with a resident must apply in writing to the Philadelphia Field Office, Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations, indicating familiarity with and agreement to comply with the rules and regulations of the facility as provided to that person by staff.

Detainee Consent

A detainee has the right not to be interviewed, photographed, or recorded by the media. Before interviewing, photographing, or recording the voice of a detainee, a visiting representative of the media must obtain written permission from that individual.

All FOIA and Privacy Act requests must be submitted on form G-639 (Freedom of Information / Privacy Act Request) or in letter format. All requests must contain the original, notarized signature of the subject in question. Please complete the form G-639 thoroughly and if writing a letter, be sure to include the full name, any other names used, date of birth, place of birth, A-number of the alien you are seeking information about, as well as your full name, address, and telephone number, so that we may contact you if we have any questions.

Mail your FOIA or Privacy Act request to:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Freedom of Information Act Office
800 North Capitol Street, NW, Room 585
Washington, D.C. 20536
Phone – 1 (866) 633-1182
Email – ICE-FOIA@dhs.gov

We strive to provide quality service to people in our custody, their family, friends, and to their official representatives. If you believe that we have not lived up to this commitment, we would like to know. If we have met or exceeded your expectations, please let us know that as well. To comment on the services provided at this office, please write to:

Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
114 North 8th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
United States

If you feel that an ICE employee or contract services employee mistreated you and wish to make a complaint of misconduct, you may:

Contact the Field Office Director

Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
114 North 8th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
United States
(215) 656-7164

Write the Office of Professional Responsibility

Director, Office of Professional Responsibility
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
500 12th Street, SW
Suite 1049
Mailstop 5099
Washington, DC 20536-5005

Contact the ICE OPR Integrity Coordination Center (ICC):

1-833-4ICE-OPR
ICEOPRIntake@ice.dhs.gov

You may also contact the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General

DHS Office of Inspector General
Attn: Office of Investigations - Hotline
245 Murray Drive, Building 410 Stop: 2600
Washington, DC 20528
Call: 1-800-323-8603
Fax: 202-254-4292
DHSOIGHOTLINE@DHS.GOV