Overview
- DHS confirmed a nearly $140 million contract with Virginia-based Daedalus Aviation to acquire six Boeing 737s for ICE deportation operations.
- The department says owning aircraft will save $279 million through more efficient flight patterns and scheduling as the administration pushes faster removals.
- Key details remain undisclosed, including who will crew the jets, where they will be based, how they will be configured, and how maintenance will be handled.
- Daedalus executives also hold leadership roles at Salus Worldwide Solutions, which has a separate DHS contract near $1 billion that is under litigation, drawing procurement scrutiny.
- ICE has conducted more than 1,700 deportation flights to 77 countries since January, with officials reporting a pace exceeding 600,000 removals this year and roughly 66,000–70,000 people in detention.