US Homeland Security Signs $140 Million Boeing 737 Deal for Deportation Fleet
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has signed a nearly $140 million contract with Daedalus Aviation to purchase six Boeing 737 aircraft intended for deportation operations. This funding is derived from the congressionally approved $170 billion border and immigration policy budget.
According to a DHS spokesperson, this initiative is expected to save approximately $279 million in taxpayer dollars by allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to operate more efficiently and optimize flight patterns.
This procurement is part of a broader set of DHS measures connected to former President Trump's pledge to conduct the "largest deportation operation in American history."
In November, there were reports of a plan to purchase 10 Boeing 737s from Spirit Airlines for the same purpose, but this plan was halted due to concerns about aircraft ownership and engines.
As of October, 1.6 million people had self-deported while 500,000 had been formally deported. ICE conducted 1,701 deportation flights to 77 countries through the end of October, marking a 79% increase over 2024.
A Guardian investigation earlier in the year revealed that Global Crossing (GlobalX) operated over 1,700 ICE flights from January to May, including nearly 1,000 involving children, raising concerns about the transportation and detention of migrants.
