Advocates with the Shut Down Detention Campaign are celebrating the release of Izzy Aly, a Florida resident who spent six months detained at the Moshannon Valley Detention Center in Clearfield County. Aly was released on June 19 and returned to his home in Orlando on June 22.

Aly, an electrical engineer and graduate of the University of Central Florida, had lived in Orlando for more than 12 years before being detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Dec. 22, 2025. According to advocates, Aly had traveled to Egypt to attend a family funeral after receiving parole authorization from the U.S. Department of State, but was arrested upon returning through Philadelphia International Airport.

Following his arrest, Aly was transferred to the Moshannon Valley Detention Center, a privately operated immigration detention facility managed by the GEO Group under contract with ICE.

In a statement released after his return home, Aly thanked supporters who campaigned for his release while urging continued advocacy on behalf of others still being held at the facility.

His release comes as immigration advocates intensify efforts to close the detention center. The Shut Down Detention Campaign estimates that more than 1,700 people remain detained at Moshannon Valley and is urging Clearfield County commissioners to reject upcoming contract renewals with both ICE and GEO Group. The agreements are scheduled to come before the commissioners for consideration later this year.

During his detention, Aly reportedly experienced serious health issues. Advocates say a Department of Homeland Security medical examination conducted in January 2026 diagnosed him with Stage 3 chronic kidney disease, but that he was not informed of the diagnosis for approximately two months. They also allege delays in treatment and inadequate medical care while he was in custody.

Concern over Aly’s health prompted the Shut Down Detention Campaign to hold an emergency press conference on May 26, calling for his immediate release. Organizers argued that his case highlighted broader concerns about conditions inside the facility.

Since Moshannon Valley began housing immigration detainees, three individuals have died while in custody: Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir, Frankline Okpu, and Chaofeng Ge.

In recent weeks, public attention on the facility has increased. U.S. Representatives Summer Lee and Chris Deluzio became the first members of Congress authorized to tour the detention center. Demonstrators also gathered outside the facility to call for an end to the county’s contracts with GEO Group and ICE. According to campaign organizers, Clearfield County commissioners were later denied access to the facility despite the county’s contractual relationship with its operators.

Advocates say Aly’s detention had significant personal consequences, including the loss of his home, vehicle, and pet. Supporters have launched fundraising efforts to assist him as he rebuilds his life following his release.