Additional Coverage:
- ICE arrested 2 truck drivers heading to a major Meta data center project (businessinsider.com)
Immigration Authorities Make Arrests Near Meta’s Louisiana Data Center
RICHLAND PARISH, LA – A massive construction project for Meta’s new Hyperion Data Center in Louisiana recently saw a brush with immigration authorities. On Wednesday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained two dump truck drivers near the site.
According to the Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office, the individuals were taken into custody during a traffic stop inspection of vehicles en route to the construction project. The drivers, identified as being from Guatemala and Honduras, were arrested due to their immigration status.
“ICE did not enter the Meta site at any time,” the Sheriff’s Office clarified in their statement. Meta has not commented on the incident.
The Hyperion Data Center is a significant undertaking for Meta, part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s push to rapidly expand the company’s AI computing capacity with several multi-gigawatt data centers.
These arrests highlight a growing concern for companies regarding how to prepare workers for potential encounters with ICE, whether on or off company property. The incident also comes amidst an increase in ICE activity across various U.S. cities and towns, which has faced opposition in some Democratic-led states.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has been a vocal proponent of former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Public records cited by Axios indicate that the state is receiving nearly $1 million per month to house detainees at its Angola prison.
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- ICE arrested 2 truck drivers heading to a major Meta data center project (businessinsider.com)