Analysis of Immigration Enforcement Incident at Meta's Louisiana Data Center

Based on the latest information I have collected, I will conduct a detailed analysis of

On January 14, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested two dump truck drivers heading to the construction site of Meta’s data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana. The two drivers are from Guatemala and Honduras respectively[1]. According to a notice from the Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office, ICE was assisting local officers with traffic stops and inspections of dump trucks heading to Meta’s construction site[1]. Notably, ICE did not enter the Meta data center construction site, but federal agents are verifying the immigration status of construction workers[1].

The data center Meta is building in Richland Parish, Louisiana is its largest data center project to date:

Based on currently available information, this incident

• ICE did not enter the Meta construction site to carry out the arrest; the operation only took place during traffic stops on the road leading to the site[1]
• Meta’s official announcement states that the project is still proceeding as planned, with the peak workforce of 5,000 construction workers expected in June 2026[4]
• As of December 2025, Meta has supported a total of 3,700 construction workers and continues to recruit local and skilled trade workers[4]

However, the following

• Federal agents are verifying the immigration status of workers, which may have a sustained impact on labor supply[1]
• The construction industry is already facing labor shortages, and multiple large-scale industrial projects are underway in Louisiana during the same period (Woodside LNG, Venture Global LNG, Hyundai, etc.), which together may occupy approximately 24% of the state’s industrial construction labor force by late 2026/early 2027[6]

• Meta has not publicly announced adjustments to its $10 billion investment plan due to immigration enforcement issues
• Meta has established partnerships with three general contractors: Turner Construction, DPR Construction, and Mortensen Construction, to continue advancing the project[4]
• The project contributes significantly to the local economy: total construction wages are expected to reach $1.28 billion, and it will contribute nearly $800 million in property tax revenue to Richland Parish over 25 years[5]

• If immigration enforcement leads to a shortage of construction workers, it may drive up labor costs
• Project delays may increase overall capital expenditure
• Labor instability may affect Meta’s AI infrastructure expansion strategy

Based on analysis of existing information,

1. Nature of the Incident
   : The detained individuals are drivers of a transportation supplier, not construction workers directly employed by Meta; ICE did not enter the construction site[1]

2. Project Scale and Strategic Importance
   : This project is a core component of Meta’s global AI infrastructure strategy and is strategically significant for its large language model training and AI development[3]

3. Economic Interest Driver
   : The project creates enormous economic value for the local area (expected $1.28 billion in construction wages, nearly $800 million in property tax revenue), so local governments have a strong incentive to support the smooth progress of the project[5]

• Whether Meta will adjust its labor recruitment strategy to increase the proportion of local workers
• Whether federal immigration enforcement will continue to be strengthened and expanded to the interior of the construction site
• Whether changes in labor costs will affect the project’s overall capital expenditure
• Whether the peak workforce of 5,000 construction workers can be achieved as planned in June 2026

[1] KNOE - “Two arrested by ICE near the Meta Data Site” (https://www.knoe.com/2026/01/14/federal-agents-confirmed-meta-construction-site/)

[2] Louisiana Economic Development - “Meta - LED” (https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/metadatacenter)

[3] Meta Data Centers - “The largest Meta data center yet brings big impact to Louisiana” (https://datacenters.atmeta.com/richland-parish-data-center/)

[4] Meta Newsroom - “One Year In: Meta’s Richland Parish Data Center Supports Louisiana Economy” (https://about.fb.com/news/2025/12/metas-richland-parish-data-center-supports-louisiana-economy-875-million-in-contracts/)

[5] Grow NELA - “Meta AI Data Center Will Generate Billions in Local and Regional Benefit” (https://grownela.com/meta-ai-data-center-will-generate-billions-in-local-and-regional-benefit-for-generations-of-northeast-louisiana-residents/)

[6] Better Louisiana - “How Six Massive Projects Will Impact Louisiana Positively” (https://betterla.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Megaprojects-Analysis-Better-LA-FINAL.pdf)

[7] NPR - “Construction of Meta data center causing ‘dangerous and reckless’ road conditions” (https://www.npr.org/2025/11/26/nx-s1-5613755/construction-of-meta-data-center-causing-dangerous-and-reckless-road-conditions)