ICE Considers Setting Up Its Own Airline

Agency is looking to ramp up deportations.

Zach Vasile

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 07:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act puts aside $75 billion for ICE, which the agency could use to set up its own airline. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE are reportedly considering establishing their own airline solely for the purpose of deporting immigrants.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is advocating for this initiative, planning to utilize a significant increase in federal funding to boost deportation capacity beyond current contracted services.
If implemented, ICE would assume responsibility for purchasing, maintaining, and operating aircraft, requiring substantial new hires for roles like pilots, mechanics, and security, and would take months or years to operate at the desired scale.

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Officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are reportedly considering setting up a new airline for the sole purpose of deporting immigrants from the country.

According to NBC News, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wants ICE to use an influx of federal dollars to buy and operate its own aircraft for deportation flights. Sources who spoke to the news outlet said the move would allow ICE to deport many more people per month but would also bring on new expenses, like the cost of maintaining and repairing airplanes.