As AI data centers expand across the United States, the need to house thousands of construction workers is giving rise to a lucrative new market. Notably, private operators who have been controversial in the immigration management field are now exploring "opportunities" in this area.

To quickly deploy infrastructure in remote areas, developers are increasingly relying on temporary communities known as "man camps." This model originally began with worker accommodations in remote oil fields. For example, in Dickens County, Texas, a facility previously used for Bitcoin mining is being converted into a 1.6-gigawatt data center, with construction workers living in modular dormitory units equipped with gyms, laundries, and even steakhouse-style dining options.

Target Hospitality has already signed a $132 million contract to build and operate such camps. The company's Chief Commercial Officer Troy Schrenk described the data center construction boom as "the largest and most viable project pipeline in history."

Notably, Target Hospitality's background has drawn public attention. The company owns and operates the Dilly Immigration Processing Center in Texas, which houses families detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Previous court documents have alleged that the center has poor conditions, including moldy food and neglecting the medical needs of sick children.

The seamless shift from "detention centers" to "AI worker dormitories" reflects the complex capital logic behind resource-intensive infrastructure development, while also raising concerns about the management standards and human rights protections of such closed camps.