The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has signed a nearly $140 million deal to acquire a set of six Boeing 737 aircraft to operate deportation missions for Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), a sharp shift from the charter-heavy model that has historically powered the agency's deportation operations. Officials have noted that dedicated aircraft will allow for more efficient flight patterns and keep costs lower. However, some industry experts doubt this.

Ownership drags DHS into the realities of owning aircraft assets, including the need to pay for crews, maintenance, dispatch, compliance, and airport fees. The feasibility test for the organization is relatively simple. DHS wants to see if ICE can safely operate a six-jet Boeing 737 fleet in a manner that beats the pricing of

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