Overview
- Multiple outlets report Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is advocating for ICE to purchase and operate its own aircraft, while DHS told ch‑aviation it cannot confirm the reporting.
- Former ICE chief of staff Jason Houser estimates roughly 30 planes would be needed to reach about 30,000–35,000 removals per month, up from roughly 15,000 using chartered aircraft.
- Aviation estimates place commercial airliners at about $80 million to $400 million each, implying $2.4 billion to $12 billion for ~30 planes, not including pilots, medics, security, maintenance and FAA compliance.
- ICE now relies on eight to 14 chartered planes, with agency figures showing about $8,577 per flight hour for scheduled charters and other estimates around $25,000 per hour or $100,000–$200,000 per flight.
- The push follows large new appropriations, including about $30 billion for removal operations, as deportation counts remain disputed, with reports citing roughly 100,000–180,000 removals so far and higher figures claimed by DHS, and with some El Salvador flights still facing court challenges.