A Boeing 737 that once carried Vice President JD Vance across the country during his 2024 campaign is now being used by the U.S. government to deport migrants to Central America. The aircraft, bearing the tail number N917XA, has taken on a starkly different role in 2025, logging over a dozen deportation flights for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to public flight data and immigration watchdogs.
The plane, formerly dubbed “Trump Force Two,” was a familiar sight during the presidential campaign as it transported Vance, his staff, and journalists between rallies and battleground states. It even featured in campaign donor promotions offering supporters a chance to fly alongside the candidate. But now, the same aircraft has been repurposed for deporting migrants, including families and individuals, to countries such as El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico.
From mid-April to May 24, the plane made at least 16 deportation trips, according to Tom Cartwright, a volunteer with Witness at the Border. His findings, verified by The New York Times, highlight the plane’s transformation from a campaign trail symbol to a key part of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
JD Vance, who previously served as a senator from Ohio before becoming vice president, has not commented on the aircraft’s new function. A spokesperson for his office did not respond to media inquiries, and the Department of Homeland Security refused to provide details, citing operational security.
“ICE uses subcontractors to help carry out its mission to deport illegal aliens,” the department said in a statement. “These subcontractors are not exclusive to ICE.”
According to FAA records, the plane is currently registered to Eastern 737 Asset Holdings L.L.C., a company based in Kansas City, Missouri. The company did not provide a comment when contacted.
This isn’t the first time the plane has been used for deportations. During Trump’s first term in 2018, the same aircraft was used for at least three deportation missions to El Salvador and Guatemala, removing approximately 360 migrants. It also helped transfer 144 individuals between ICE detention facilities within the U.S.
The Trump-Vance administration has been vocal about its plans to dramatically expand deportations. Since taking office, policies have shifted to accelerate the removal process and broaden the range of people eligible for deportation. Legal immigration rules have also been tightened in several areas.
The repurposing of the campaign plane underscores the administration’s commitment to making immigration enforcement a visible and operational priority. However, the use of a once-prominent campaign tool for deportation flights also raises symbolic questions about the intersection of politics and immigration policy.
Last August, the plane made headlines after an emergency landing in Milwaukee due to a door malfunction during the campaign. It was quickly repaired, and the flight continued to Cincinnati, where Vance was scheduled to appear.
Now, instead of campaign rallies, the plane’s mission focuses on removing undocumented individuals as part of one of the most aggressive deportation programs in recent U.S. history.