US DHS Acquires Six Boeing 737s for Deportation Fleet Amid Spirit AeroSystems Deal

December 11, 2025 at 07:45 AM•2 min read

US Homeland Security expands its deportation fleet with six Boeing 737 aircraft in a $140 million deal.

Key Points

1The US Department of Homeland Security is acquiring six Boeing 737 aircraft for approximately $140 million to expand ICE deportation operations.
2The contract for the new Boeing 737 fleet was awarded to Daedalus Aviation, not directly to Boeing, aiming for $279 million in taxpayer savings.
3Boeing finalized its $4.7 billion acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, a key supplier of 737 MAX fuselages, to stabilize production lines.
4The Spirit AeroSystems reacquisition follows intense scrutiny over Boeing's quality control after the Alaska Airlines 737 MAX door-panel blowout.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proceeding with the acquisition of six Boeing 737 aircraft, valued at nearly $140 million, to bolster US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation operations. This initiative, which DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin stated would save US taxpayers $279 million, aims to enhance operational efficiency through more effective flight patterns. The contract for these jets was awarded to Daedalus Aviation, a firm established in early 2024, rather than directly to Boeing.

This fleet expansion underscores the Trump administration's intensified efforts to accelerate the removal of undocumented immigrants. Since January, Human Rights First has documented over 1,700 deportation flights to numerous countries. The administration reports that more than two million undocumented immigrants have departed the United States this year, with 1.6 million leaving voluntarily and the remainder through deportations.

Simultaneously, Boeing has completed its $4.7 billion acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, the Kansas-based supplier responsible for manufacturing fuselages for its 737 MAX jets. This strategic move aims to reintegrate a critical parts provider and address persistent manufacturing disruptions impacting both the 737 MAX and 787 programs. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg described the reacquisition as a "pivotal moment" for the company's future, focusing on stability and high-quality aircraft delivery.

The reacquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, which was spun off from Boeing in 2005, follows heightened scrutiny over Boeing's quality control. Concerns intensified after a door-panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX last year, where investigators found four bolts missing. This incident, alongside a criminal case stemming from two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people, has placed Boeing's safety culture under renewed pressure. The criminal case was recently resolved with a federal judge approving a settlement requiring Boeing to pay or invest an additional $1.1 billion in fines, victim compensation, and internal safety upgrades.