DHS to Buy Six Boeing 737s for ICE Deportation Flights

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will acquire six Boeing 737 aircraft for exclusive use in deportation operations carried out by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as part of a broader federal effort to expand removal capacity and reduce reliance on private charter contractors. The nearly US$140 million purchase, confirmed by DHS and first reported by The Washington Post, will be funded through the US$170 billion border security and migration package approved by Congress in July.

“This new initiative will save US$279 million in taxpayer dollars by allowing ICE to operate more effectively, including by using more efficient flight patterns. President Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem are committed to quickly and efficiently getting criminal illegal aliens out of our country,” said Tricia McLaughlin, DHS spokesperson.

The aircraft will be provided under a contract with Daedalus Aviation, a Virginia-based company whose executives also lead Salus Worldwide Solutions, a firm holding a separate DHS contract valued at nearly US$1 billion to support voluntary “self-deportation” programs. DHS has not released an operational timeline for the new aircraft, and Daedalus has not issued a public statement.

The acquisition represents a structural shift in how ICE conducts removals. ICE Air Operations has traditionally relied on charter-flight providers to transport individuals subject to deportation. DHS expects that operating its own fleet will reduce delays, enable more direct routing, and standardize logistics under existing repatriation agreements. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has previously cited the need for “a stable air operation that can respond without delays or external limitations,” according to Spanish-language reporting by EFE.

While DHS has confirmed the aircraft type, it has not disclosed the specific Boeing 737 variants included in the purchase. Depending on configuration, 737 aircraft typically accommodate 85 to 200 passengers, which could allow ICE to increase flight frequency or tailor capacity to operational needs. The new fleet may also enable additional direct flights to countries with which the United States maintains repatriation agreements.