Now that Spirit Airlines is bankrupt and closed down, President Donald Trump should buy it for the Department of Homeland Security for pennies on the dollar, then use it to fly all 20 million illegal immigrants back to their home country efficiently, immediately, and cheaply.
Spirit was built to move people at the lowest possible cost. That is exactly the tool the country needs right now. The planes, crews, maintenance systems, scheduling, and operating structure were all in place. Instead of letting that capability scatter, the government should step in and keep it intact.
This is not about permanently shutting down the airline. It is about keeping it running, while using part of its capacity to finally execute on removal orders that have already gone through due process.
Millions of illegal aliens already have removal orders. At that point, the issue is not policy—it is execution. And execution requires consistent, scalable transportation.
Spirit’s model makes it ideal. High-density seating. Fast turnarounds. Low operating costs. It was designed for volume. That same system can be used to move people out of the country just as efficiently as it once moved them between cities.
Under DHS control, the airline continues flying commercial routes, preserving jobs, infrastructure, and low-cost competition in the market. At the same time, a portion of the fleet is dedicated to scheduled removal flights. Flights can be organized by destination, and processing centers can feed directly into departure hubs, creating a steady, predictable pipeline instead of scattered charters and delays.
💰 The Cost — and Why It Works
Here’s where the idea becomes even stronger.
When JetBlue Airways tried to buy Spirit, the price was about $3.8 billion for a fully functioning airline.
That deal is gone.
Now you’re buying through bankruptcy.
That changes everything.
Instead of paying the full market value, the government could likely secure control of the airline for a fraction of that, while creditors try to recover anything they can.
A realistic breakdown:

• Acquisition through bankruptcy: ~$500 million – $1.5 billion
• Stabilization and operating cash: ~$500 million – $1 billion
• Total initial investment: roughly $1–2.5 billion
  That is dramatically lower than the original $3.8 billion valuation.
  💸 Cost Per Deportation (Where This Gets Powerful)
  Because the airline is owned and operating:
• No profit margins from third-party charters
• No surge pricing
• Full control over scheduling and efficiency
  Even conservatively:
• Cost per illegal alien transported could drop into the $500–$1,500 range depending on distance and efficiency
• At scale, that is significantly cheaper than fragmented charter operations
  Unlike one-time spending, the airline generates ongoing commercial revenue from passengers throughout the process.
  🔁 Built-In Exit Strategy
  This is not permanent government ownership.
  Once the backlog is cleared:
• The airline can be sold to a private buyer
• Or taken public again
• Or partially sold off to recover costs
  Meaning:
  👉 A large portion of that $1–2.5 billion could be recovered
  👉 Possibly even turned into a net gain if the airline stabilizes
  🔥 The Bottom Line
  Instead of spending billions inefficiently over the years:
• The government makes a targeted investment
• Gains a working transportation system immediately
• Uses it to clear a massive backlog
• Then exits and recovers much of the cost
  A bankrupt airline becomes:
  👉 A cost-saving tool
  👉 A logistics solution
  👉 And a temporary national asset
  Buy it cheap.
  Keep it flying.
  Use it where it matters.
  Then sell it when the job is done.