ICE may soon have its own fleet for deportation flights: Report

Instead of relying on charter flights, the Department of Homeland Security is considering using its own airplanes to carry out deportations. A former immigration official said the change could double the number of people removed from the United States. NBC News reported that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is leading the effort and working to secure a new fleet for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

From charters to ownership

Sources told NBC News that Noem’s plan goes beyond leasing flights; she wants Homeland Security to buy, own and operate its own aircraft. At the moment, ICE charters planes, hiring them as needed for deportation flights to specific locations.

Through its Air Operations program, the agency partners with commercial airlines to carry out those trips. According to ICE, they stage 12 aircraft in Florida, Arizona, Texas and Louisiana. 

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has pushed for large-scale deportation efforts, with a goal of removing at least 1 million people living in the country illegally each year. In the administration’s first 100 days, ICE reported that more than 120,000 undocumented immigrants were arrested or deported.

How many planes would it take?

Jason Houser, who served as ICE’s chief of staff from 2022 to 2023, said chartering planes during the Biden administration allowed about 15,000 people to be deported each month. To double that number, he said, the agency would either need 30 additional planes or the ability to purchase and operate its own aircraft, which would remove the limits of working with commercial airlines.

The price of each flight

According to ICE, the average cost of a regularly scheduled charter flight is about $8,600 per flight hour. High-risk flights are more expensive, ranging from roughly $6,900 to $26,800 per flight hour, depending on the type of aircraft required. The price covers more than just the plane and fuel — it also includes the crew, security staff, a medical professional on board, as well as additional aviation and overflight fees.

“ICE Air Operations is capable of facilitating the removal of alien nationals from any location in the continental United States to anywhere in the world via commercial airline or charter aircraft, ensuring their safe and humane return to their countries of origin,” Katrina S. Kane, deputy assistant director for ICE Air Operations, said. 

Potential costs 

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that replacing the Department of Defense’s military aircraft fleet could cost about $380 billion over 30 years, or roughly $11 billion per year.

Although the CBO estimate applies to military aircraft, it provides a point of comparison for large-scale federal fleet purchases. Both military and potential ICE fleets involve significant costs for aircraft acquisition, crew, maintenance and operations.

Funding may not be a major obstacle. ICE received a boost in the president’s recent spending bill, which granted the agency more than $75 billion, including $30 billion set aside for deportation efforts.