DHS inks contract to create its own fleet of Boeing 737s for deportations

[In It to Win It]

WaPo - Gift Link

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 has long relied on charter planes to carry out deportation flights, but two officials familiar with the contract and records reviewed by The Washington Post indicate ICE has broader plans.

Earlier this year, Congress signed off on $170 billion for President Donald Trump’s border and immigration agenda over four years as part of the GOP’s sprawling tax bill. The money for the planes is coming from that funding, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss information that had not been made public.

The enormous infusion of cash opened the door for the Trump administration to spend lavishly on immigration enforcement to meet the president’s goals of deporting record numbers of immigrants. Administration officials have set a goal of deporting 1 million people by the end of Trump’s first year in office.

0m.
Think of how many cancer drug trials or free school lunches this could have paid for www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...

— Catherine Rampell (@crampell.bsky.social) 2025-12-10T15:55:59.956Z

[dalton99a]

1. One will undoubtedly be reserved for exclusive use by Noem & Lewandowski

[MineralMan]

2. Morons! None of them will be still working in government

by the time Boeing can deliver those planes. Idiots!

[Volaris]

3. I suppose putting them on a Boeing 737 is one way of getting rid of people you dont like...

[Attilatheblond]

4. KInda surprised Noem isn't shopping for planes with bombay doors she can just drop people out of n/r

[crud]

5. someone is getting a kick back

someone is greasing the wheels, someone is getting a finders fee, someone is getting the maintenance contract, and the money goes round and round. Tax payers footing the bill.

[lostnfound]

7. Yes. And the condition of those aircraft can make them boat anchors or fine flying machines

Since Noem was previously trying to buy planes without engines, I’m guessing kickbacks as well.

[dickthegrouch]

6. Surprised they aren't just ordering trebuchets

Far cheaper. No JP5 needed. No pilot.

[IzzaNuDay]

8. $140 million is a brand new 737 off the lot

they must be buying some retired/mothballed aircraft to reconfigure as cattle cars….