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The US Department of Homeland Security is acquiring its own fleet of Boeing aircraft for use in President Donald Trump’s controversial deportation moves, a spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.
“These planes will allow ICE to operate more effectively, including by using more efficient flight patterns,” Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, said in a post on X, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
It is being reported that a nearly $140 million contract for six 737 jets was awarded to Daedalus Aviation, a company founded in early 2024, rather than a direct purchase from the aircraft manufacturer. Boeing has declined to comment.
Trump has prioritised curbing illegal immigration and expelling undocumented migrants during his second term, taking several measures to accelerate deportations and limit border crossings. According to the organisation Human Rights First, there have been over 1,700 deportation flights to various countries since Trump resumed office in January.
The comprehensive immigration enforcement strategy employed by Trump, which has included numerous raids conducted by masked law enforcement officials, has drawn considerable criticism, resulting in multiple legal challenges and protests in some cities run by Democrats.
The administration claims that since January, more than two million undocumented immigrants have departed the United States: 1.6 million did so voluntarily, while the remainder were forcibly removed.
