County Fight Contested

New Castle County, DE — Daedalus Deportation-Flight Contractor Lease at Wilmington Airport

New Castle, DE FIPS 10003

Current status: The bistate Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) is weighing a lease of Wilmington Airport hangar space to Daedalus Aviation, a contractor that earned ~$140M selling planes to DHS for ICE deportations (an affiliated firm holds a ~$1B deportation-support contract). All 15 Delaware Senate Democrats signed a letter opposing it; the Delaware Stop Avelo Coalition and DSA pressed Govs. Meyer (DE) and Sherrill (NJ) to veto. DRBA claimed federal law forces approval; a key DRBA meeting was set for Feb 18, 2026. Meyer floated conditional approval only for VIP transports, not deportation flights. Outcome pending as of May 2026.

The Fight

The Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) — the bistate (DE/NJ) authority that runs Wilmington Airport (New Castle County, FIPS 10003) — is considering a lease of hangar space to Daedalus Aviation, a contractor deeply tied to ICE deportation logistics. Daedalus earned roughly $140M last year selling planes to the Department of Homeland Security for ICE deportations, and company executives control a separate firm holding a nearly $1B deportation-support contract.

Opponents argue the deal would make Delaware infrastructure for the deportation apparatus its political leaders publicly oppose. All 15 Delaware Senate Democrats signed a letter against the lease. The Delaware Stop Avelo Coalition and Democratic Socialists of America pressed both Gov. Matt Meyer (DE) and Gov. Mikie Sherrill (NJ) — each of whom has veto power over DRBA actions — to block it. Meyer has said “ICE has no regard for human life,” yet floated conditional approval if Daedalus commits to VIP transports only, not deportation flights. DRBA claimed federal law mandates approval and warned of financial penalties for denial. A pivotal DRBA meeting was set for February 18, 2026; the outcome remains pending as of late May 2026.

Timeline

2026-02 (early): Opposition mounts; 15 DE Senate Democrats sign letter against the lease; Stop Avelo Coalition and DSA press Govs. Meyer and Sherrill to veto
2026-02-18: Scheduled DRBA meeting on the lease
2026 (spring): Govs. Meyer and Sherrill remain noncommittal; Meyer floats VIP-transport-only condition; outcome pending

Why This Fight Matters

This is the deportation-infrastructure front of Delaware’s broader resistance: even a state with a 287(g) ban and no detention beds can be pulled into the deportation pipeline through a quasi-state authority (an airport authority) leasing to a flight contractor. The veto leverage held by the two governors makes it a direct test of whether stated opposition to ICE translates into blocking enabling infrastructure. It parallels the federal pressure on Delaware’s labor and DMV data — the administration and its contractors routing around state firewalls via bistate authorities and federal-preemption claims.

Sources

This research is published at The RAMM — investigative reporting on the detention pipeline.

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