ICE Deportation Push Spurs Aviation Firm to Buy Up Used Jets

President Donald Trump’s plan for a massive increase in deportation flights relies in part on a little-known startup from Virginia that’s assembling a fleet of planes after winning a $140 million contract to provide the Department of Homeland Security with aircraft.

Since landing that DHS deal late last year, Daedalus Aviation Corp. has registered four Boeing Co. 737-700 aircraft previously used by discount carrier Avelo Inc., according to Federal Aviation Administration data.