PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Immigration advocates are up in arms over the government’s alleged failure to treat an Egyptian national for kidney failure while he is held at a detention center in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.
Izzy Aly has been in federal detention at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center after being picked up in Philadelphia since December.
“Izzy has lived here under visas with the full consent and knowledge of the United States State Department,” said his friend J. Mark Barfield. “He traveled to Egypt last December to settle his late father's estate. On his return, he was detained in Philadelphia and then transferred upstate.”
During a medical exam at the facility in March, according to advocates, he was told there is a problem with his kidneys.
Advocates held a press conference to draw attention to Aly’s case. Dr. Andrea Fox of Pittsburgh said she reviewed Aly’s records at the request of his friends.
“He was diagnosed with stage 3b kidney failure,” Fox explained. “It can be helped with somewhat simple measures, sometimes good control of blood pressure, hydration, and other healthy living. He clearly is not able to live a lifestyle right now that protects his kidneys.”
Supporters said he has not seen a doctor, been treated for chronic kidney disease or been taken to see any specialists. Last week, Aly said he began to see blood in his urine. “That is an emergency and needs to be addressed immediately,” said Fox.
Zeynep Emanet is with the Council on American Islamic Relations Philadelphia.
“Delaying or denying care for serious medical conditions is not merely neglectful, it is dangerous, inhumane, and unconstitutional,” said Zeynep Emanet, civic engagement manager for the Council on American Islamic Relations Philadelphia.
Moshannon has a reputation for unhealthy conditions. In April, about 100 detainees participated in a hunger strike to draw attention to a lack of health care, stale food, curdled milk and worms in their water.
According to officials, since 2023, three people have died while in custody at Moshannon, since 2023: Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir, who was denied medical treatment after suffering chest pain; Franklin Okpu, who was on suicide watch; and Chaofeng Ge, whose death was ruled a suicide. His family, however, have sued, saying his hands and feet were bound behind his back.
GEO Group, which owns Moshannon, referred questions to ICE. ICE has not responded to a request for comment.
