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Homeland Security Secretary Proposes $70 Million Luxury Jet for Deportations, Sparking Internal Conflict
A proposal by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to acquire a $70 million luxury jet for mass deportations has reportedly ignited a behind-the-scenes conflict within U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration administration. The request, made to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), seeks the purchase of a Boeing 737 Max 8, a lavish aircraft featuring a queen-sized bed, four flat-screen televisions, a kitchen, showers, and a bar, according to images obtained by NBC News.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently entered into a lease agreement for the plane, and now Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is reportedly pressuring OMB to finalize the purchase of the high-end jet. This aircraft is intended for both deportation flights and travel for Cabinet officials, as detailed by two DHS officials involved in the proceedings.
However, some ICE officials have privately voiced reservations about the acquisition of such an expensive, opulent jet for mass deportations, a move described by some DHS officials as “far-fetched.” Despite these concerns, a DHS spokesperson stated that the purchase would ultimately save taxpayers millions.
“This new plane will serve dual missions-both as ICE deportation flights and for cabinet-level travel,” a DHS spokesperson told NBC News in a statement. “This plane flies at 40% cheaper than what the military aircraft flies for ICE deportation flights-saving the American taxpayer hundreds of millions of dollars.” The statement further added, “This is part of Secretary Noem’s broader efforts to clamp down on inefficiencies and save taxpayer dollars.”
At the time of reporting, the OMB has not publicly acknowledged the NBC News exposé.
The luxury jet, in its current configuration, can accommodate only 18 passengers and provides sleeping arrangements for 14 individuals. This stands in stark contrast to the typical deportation flight, which can transport between 50 to 100 detainees, in addition to medical and security personnel.
DHS reportedly plans to address the limited seating capacity by converting “at least one of the bedrooms… for seating to prepare the aircraft to meet the demands of its deportation mission set,” a DHS spokesperson informed NBC News.
Traditionally, ICE relies on charter flights for deportations, a method generally considered more cost-effective than using military or purchased aircraft. Using military aircraft can be up to ten times more expensive than charter flights for these operations. DHS has not yet disclosed the per-person cost of using the luxury jet for deportations.
Presently, ICE has acquired at least five non-luxury 737 aircraft for deportations, with plans to obtain a total of eight 737 planes, according to DHS officials.
Initially, both ICE and OMB were reportedly against the purchase of the luxury jet. However, their stance shifted after discussions on how the aircraft could be “retrofitted” for Trump’s deportation initiatives, a DHS official noted.
“That particular plane was a ‘no,’ we weren’t going to buy it. Then all of a sudden, they said ‘yes,'” the official stated, indicating that the OMB is expected to approve the purchase.