The Trump administration’s new Boeing fleet marks a major escalation in federal deportation capabilities as the Department of Homeland Security finalized a deal to purchase Boeing 737 planes dedicated to removal operations. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the move, saying, “We are delighted to see the media 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.”
The fleet, purchased through Daedalus Aviation, provides Immigration and Customs Enforcement with greater operational control as deportation flights continue to increase under President Trump. According to McLaughlin, the initiative will save $279 million by enabling “more efficient flight patterns.” The Washington Post reported that six Boeing 737s were included in the purchase, supported by funding approved by Congress in July as part of the “big, beautiful bill” signed by President Trump.
The administration’s broader immigration strategy centers on detaining and removing illegal immigrants following record-high unauthorized entries during the Biden administration. A Pew Research Center report found the unauthorized population reached 14 million in 2023. Since President Trump returned to office, DHS has conducted more than 1,700 deportation flights, despite ongoing legal challenges. McLaughlin said, “President Trump and Secretary Noem are committed to quickly and efficiently getting criminal illegal aliens OUT of our country.”
Democratic officials have criticized the surge in enforcement, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who argued federal officers were “running through soccer fields, scaring kids… For what? Just toughness.” DHS maintains the focus remains on public safety. In September, McLaughlin highlighted progress: “The numbers don’t lie: 2 million illegal aliens have been removed or self-deported in just 250 days.”
DHS has not yet specified whether the Boeing aircraft are new or how the government will manage maintenance. Still, officials describe the program as central to the administration’s accelerated deportation agenda.
