New Mexico AI data center zoning meeting erupted into chaos with arrests as locals protest large load siting.
A New Mexico county commission meeting erupted into physical confrontation when commissioners ended public comment while some opponents said they had not been given an opportunity to speak. The chaotic encounter resulted in three arrests and was captured on video.
The incident took place on Tuesday at a Doña Ana County commissioners meeting discussing Project Jupiter, a massive AI data center campus in Santa Teresa where Oracle is the tenant. Tensions escalated as protesters began chanting "Let us speak" and moved toward the front of the room. As two deputies attempted to remove attendees, other participants and a private security officer became involved in a pushing and shoving altercation.
During the confrontation, 26-year-old certified nursing assistant Abegail Salugsugan was thrown to the ground twice. She was later taken into custody outside the meeting room and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting or obstructing an officer, according to Doña Ana County jail records. Two other individuals were also arrested: 33-year-old Kiki Garden faced the same charges as Salugsugan, while 50-year-old Orin Parnell was charged with disorderly conduct. All three were initially listed as held without bond.
Project Jupiter has been contentious for nearly a year due to concerns about the data center's water consumption, electricity requirements, and whether its promised economic benefits justify the project's costs and resource demands. Supporters of the project, Oracle, and local officials have predicted the data center will stimulate the local economy through job creation and increased tax revenue. The company claims construction has already generated nearly $80 million in state and county tax revenue and employed almost 700 New Mexico residents.
Video of the confrontation was posted on Instagram and X, where it quickly gained attention and spawned extensive online commentary. Commenters largely focused on distrust of the county's handling of the project, with some making unsubstantiated allegations of corruption. Others framed the arrests as a First Amendment issue. However, available reporting indicates the confrontation began after commissioners ended the public comment period, and those arrested faced charges including disorderly conduct and resisting an officer—the reporting does not establish they were arrested simply for expressing opposition to Project Jupiter.
The confrontation adds another flashpoint to an ongoing bitter dispute. While the company points to jobs and millions in tax revenue generated during construction, opponents continue challenging the project's water and electricity demands in court, along with disputing the county's approval of its financing.