We, community members, environmental advocates, students, and residents of the El Paso, New Mexico, and Ciudad Juárez region, are calling on our local leaders to stop the construction of all 6 data centers in our region and any future plans to build more and protect our limited water resources. These facilities consume large amounts of water and electricity while our communities already face drought, groundwater depletion, and rising environmental challenges. We are concerned about the environmental, economic, and political impacts of these projects and believe public resources should be invested in community needs rather than corporate expansion.

As these data centers continue to expand, people around the world are raising concerns about the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and the large data centers needed to support it, including Pope Leo XIV, who spoke about the need to ensure this new technology benefits humanity. He warned that technology should not give too much power and control to a small number of large corporations and called for honesty, accountability, and the protection of communities and people as technology continues to grow.

Water is one of our most valuable and limited resources. The construction of large data centers threatens to place even greater pressure on water supplies that our families, farmers, schools, businesses, and future generations depend upon. These facilities use large amounts of water to cool computer systems that run all day and night. They also consume enormous amounts of electricity, placing additional demand on power grids and infrastructure. As more AI technologies are developed, the demand for larger and more powerful data centers continues to grow.

We reject the idea that data center(s) bring economic growth to our region. While corporations often promise jobs and economic growth, many of the jobs created are temporary construction jobs or highly specialized positions that don't benefit most residents. At the same time, public resources, tax incentives, and infrastructure investments are often provided to support these projects while many communities continue to struggle with affordable housing, aging infrastructure, healthcare needs, underfunded schools, and access to clean water.

Therefore, we call on our Mayors, City Councils, County Officials, and Community Leaders to take immediate action to:

Stop any construction, revoke permits, subsidies, tax incentives, land transfers, or infrastructure agreements that support the growth of data centers in our region.

Protect our water by requiring full public disclosure of water use, energy consumption, and environmental impacts associated with existing and proposed data centers.

Prioritize community needs by investing public resources in clean drinking water infrastructure, affordable housing, healthcare, education, public transportation, and community-based renewable energy projects.

Ensure public accountability through public hearings, independent environmental reviews, community oversight, and legally enforceable protections for our water and environment.

Water is a human right, and decisions affecting our future should be made transparently, with accountability, and with meaningful public participation. Communities deserve a voice in decisions that will affect their future, and public officials should be accountable to residents and place community needs above corporate interests.