ICE action hits Facebook-parent Meta data center site, arrests two during checks

US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has arrested two individuals during an enforcement action near a construction site in rural Louisiana where Meta Platforms Inc. is building its largest data center. The arrests, as per Bloomberg report, were made during traffic stops involving dump trucks headed toward the project site in Richland Parish, according to local law enforcement. Authorities said the action was carried out outside the construction site and did not involve ICE agents entering Meta’s premises. The incident comes as federal agencies continue stepped-up immigration enforcement at construction and industrial locations across the United States.

Arrests made during traffic checks

The Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office said the two individuals arrested were from Guatemala and Honduras. The office said it assisted ICE agents with the traffic stops and confirmed that the enforcement activity was limited to vehicles traveling to the site. According to the sheriff’s office, ICE agents did not enter the Meta construction site at any time.


A witness, who asked not to be identified, said unmarked vehicles arrived near the perimeter of the site in Holly Ridge earlier in the day. The witness said the vehicles appeared to be part of a coordinated federal operation.


A person familiar with the situation said ICE acted after a request from local law enforcement related to concerns about undocumented workers. The person declined to be named to discuss a sensitive matter.

Part of wider immigration drive

Meta declined to comment on the incident. The Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not respond to requests for comment. Meta’s general contractors—Turner Construction Company, DPR Construction and Mortenson—also did not respond.


The enforcement action follows a broader immigration drive by the Trump administration, which has targeted construction sites and manufacturing plants in recent months. The push comes as US technology companies, including Meta, commit large sums to build data centers needed to support artificial intelligence infrastructure, resulting in major construction projects across states such as Louisiana and Texas.


Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has publicly backed the administration’s immigration agenda. A spokesperson for the governor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.