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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the acquisition of Spirit Airline aircraft before discovering that the carrier did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the aircraft were missing engines.

This bizarre incident was contained in a investigation released on the end of the week, which recounted how the secretary and a ex- political strategist had recently arranged to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. People familiar with the situation told the paper that the two planned to use the jets to increase deportation flights – and for private use.

Those insiders also claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be far more expensive than simply expanding existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials facing intense criticism after video reportedly shows unresponsive individual holding child during detention.

Complicating matters further, the airline, which filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in August, did not possess the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be bought independently. The proposal has since been halted, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in October that during this fall's record-long government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard entered into a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate travel for you and the deputy, at a cost to the public of $200 million,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the department.

A DHS spokesperson informed the outlet that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were incorrect but refused to offer further details.

Congress had previously approved the termed “big, beautiful bill” in July, which dedicates roughly $170bn for immigration and border security operations, a amount that makes ICE the most well-funded law enforcement agency in the US government.

In the autumn, it was revealed that the government was transporting immigrants held as part of its removal program in ways that violated their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

Leaked data examined from private airline Global Crossing outlined the journeys of tens of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the nation before removal.