DHS doubles deportation jet fleet

The high-end jets are intended to facilitate long-haul deportation flights to distant nations, including recent agreements with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Costa Rica.

Critics have condemned the use of luxury aircraft for expulsions, describing the expense as a waste of taxpayer funds during a fiscal crisis.

DHS officials maintain that the fleet is necessary for national security and to manage the logistics of large-scale removals.

The move comes as the number of migrants in ICE custody reaches record highs, with 29 deaths reported since October.