Government finally gets serious planes under its own control so deportations do not depend on slow or expensive outside help anymore. This fleet build-up will crank up the numbers way higher than before because they can fly whenever needed without waiting.
@DHSgov What happened to all those Spirit Airlines planes ✈️ 🤨? We could double the fleet easily! pic.twitter.com/ECrJI37NCr
— The American Girl (@theamerikangirl) July 11, 2026
- DHS signed big contracts for Boeing 737s and other jets to create dedicated deportation fleet.
- Goal is to own and operate planes instead of paying charters every time.
- Plans include multiple 737s and high-end Gulfstreams for faster round-the-clock operations.
- Deportation flights already hit record highs in 2026 with big jumps from previous year.
- Part of broader push to deport more people quicker without depending on outside companies.
- Total spending on aircraft runs into hundreds of millions across deals.
NBC News on DHS luxury jet purchase for deportations: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/no-expense-spared-luxury-jet-dhs-wants-buy-deportations-rcna259425
Washington Post report on $140 million Boeing 737 contract: https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/12/10/dhs-deport-boeing-contract/