ICE may soon have its own fleet for deportation flights

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Transcript

00:00Instead of chartering planes, Homeland Security may soon fly its own.

00:04A former immigration official says that could double the number of deportations.

00:11NBC News reports Secretary Kristi Noem is pushing to secure a new fleet for ICE.

00:17Sources tell NBC Noem wants Homeland Security to buy, own, and operate its aircraft.

00:23ICE hires planes as needed, partnering with commercial airlines through its air operations program.

00:29Since taking office, President Trump has aimed to remove at least 1 million people living illegally in the U.S. each year.

00:36In the first 100 days of Trump's administration, ICE reported more than 120,000 arrests or removals.

00:43A former ICE chief of staff says chartering planes under the Biden administration allowed about 15,000 removals per month.

00:51To double that, ICE would need 30 more planes or to operate its own.

00:55ICE says a regular charter costs about $8,600 per flight hour.

01:01High-risk flights range from $6,900 to $26,800 per flight hour.

01:08Costs cover the plane, fuel, crew, security, onboard medical staff, and all aviation fees.

01:14Funding, though, may not be a barrier.

01:16ICE received more than $75 billion in the president's recent spending bill, including $30 billion for deportation efforts alone.

01:25For more on this story, head to san.com or download the Straight Arrow News mobile app today.

01:30For Straight Arrow News, I'm Kayleigh Carey.