A bar, kitchen and flat-screen TVs: the $70m jet DHS is eyeing for deportations
The Department of Homeland Security is considering purchasing a luxurious $70 million Boeing 737-8 Max for deportation flights, raising concerns about its appropriateness for transporting immigration detainees.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is reportedly interested in a $70 million Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft, which features opulent amenities such as a bedroom with a queen bed, showers, and multiple flat-screen TVs. This aircraft is suggested to serve dual purposes: transporting high-ranking officials in comfort and conducting deportation flights for immigration detainees. NBC News has obtained images of the plane, highlighting its lavish interior, which starkly contrasts with the realities faced by those being deported.
There are internal discussions within DHS regarding the decision to purchase the aircraft, with some officials expressing skepticism about its practicality for deportation purposes. An unnamed DHS official indicated that the concept of using such a luxury plane for deportations is implausible, especially considering standard ICE deportation flights typically carry over 100 detainees who are shackled and require adequate security, medical staff, and crew. The juxtaposition of the aircraft's luxury features and the harsh reality of deportation is raising eyebrows.
This consideration raises broader questions about the priorities of the DHS and ICE, as some experts speculate on the implications of such a purchase amid ongoing discussions about immigration policy and deportation processes. The situation is emblematic of the tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the U.S., given the significant public and political discourse on the treatment of detainees and the resources allocated for deportation efforts, especially in light of current immigration laws and public sentiment.