The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed a Washington Post report that the agency has inked a deal for the purchase of six planes for nearly $140 million, which will aid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in deportations, allowing them to bypass charter airlines.
The Post report read:
The Department of Homeland Security recently signed a contract worth nearly $140 million to purchase six Boeing 737 planes for deportations — a move that will allow the agency to operate its own fleet after receiving a massive funding increase from Congress.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the arm of DHS that carries out deportation flights, has long relied on charter planes, but two officials familiar with the contract and records reviewed by The Washington Post indicate ICE has broader plans.
In a post on Wednesday on X, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin reacted to the WaPo report about DHS reaching an agreement to buy several Boeing 737 planes for deportation flights.
*Somehow* the @washingtonpost forgot to include anywhere in their story that this new initiative will save the US taxpayer $279 MILLION.
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) December 10, 2025
I guess they didn’t want the public to know?
These planes will allow ICE to operate more effectively, including by using more efficient… https://t.co/rpSXb80lC2
READ MORE: Adios Airlines: Kristi Noem Is Reportedly Pushing for ICE to Have Its Own Fleet of Airplanes
MORE: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Reveals the Number of Illegal Aliens Who Have Self-Deported—and It's Huge
McLauglin pointed out what she said the outlet had failed to do: that the deal is going to "save the U.S. taxpayer $279 million."
"I guess they didn't want the public to know?" she wrote. "These planes will allow ICE to operate more effectively, including by using more efficient flight patterns."
"President [Donald] Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem are committed to quickly and efficiently getting criminal illegal aliens out of our country," she added.
McLauglin shared a statement with the outlet that the department was "delighted to see The Washington Post is highlighting the Trump administration's cost-effective and innovative ways of delivering on the American people's mandate for mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens."
SEE: Big Beautiful Bill Spawns Big Beautiful ICE Recruiting Drive
The exciting news comes following a report from my RedState colleague Teri Christoph in August, about Noem looking into ICE having its own deportation fleet.
Christoph wrote:
A report popped up on Wednesday that Noem was looking to use an influx of cash into ICE, courtesy of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), to equip the agency with the equivalent of its own airline that can be at the ready for deportation flights. Right now, ICE relies on charter planes to get the job done.
She added:
The cost of acquiring a fleet of airplanes would undoubtedly be costly. The Pilot Institute estimates it can cost anywhere between $80 million and $400 million to buy a commercial airliner; purchasing in bulk could lower the per plane cost, but it's still a substantial investment—likely well into the billions. Luckily, the OBBB just allocated ICE billions of dollars to ramp up its operations and hire additional agents, but it's unclear if there's enough in the kitty to cover the costs of airplanes.
This is truly fantastic! And a very innovative way to keep President Trump's promise to deport illegal aliens and keep his agenda rolling.
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