Seven Boeing Co. 737-700 jets, purchased for hundreds of millions of dollars to support President Donald Trump’s deportation efforts, remain largely unused at Lake Charles Regional Airport in southwest Louisiana. The fleet was acquired this year by Kristi Noem for the Department of Homeland Security, but the initiative has stalled.
The jets were part of a broader plan to ramp up deportations, but Noem’s tenure ended abruptly after she was fired. Her dismissal followed criticism from Republicans over her leadership and a controversial $200 million self-promotional ad campaign.
The grounded fleet highlights the challenges faced by the deportation campaign, as the jets have barely left the ground since their acquisition. The situation raises questions about the effectiveness and oversight of the program.