Overview

• NBC News reports that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is urging ICE to purchase and operate its own airplanes, though DHS has not confirmed any procurement and ICE has announced no purchases.
• The “One Big Beautiful Act” increased ICE’s funding to roughly $75 billion overall, with about $30 billion for removal operations that proponents say could underwrite an aircraft acquisition.
• ICE now relies on chartered planes—typically 8 to 14 at a time—supporting about 15,000 removals per month; a former ICE chief of staff estimates roughly 30 owned aircraft could reach 30,000–35,000 per month.
• Passenger jets can cost about $80 million to $400 million each, implying $2.4 billion to $12 billion to buy around 30, and ownership would shift staffing, maintenance and FAA‑compliance burdens to ICE.
• Trackers say ICE chartered just over 1,000 flights by the end of July at about $25,000 per flight hour, while reported 2025 deportation totals vary widely, with the New York Times citing about 180,000 so far and DHS citing figures above 300,000.