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The head of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the acquisition of Spirit Airline jets before discovering that the carrier did not actually own the aircraft – and that the aircraft lacked power plants.

This strange anecdote was detailed in a report published on Friday, which described how the secretary and a ex- political strategist had recently attempted to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the pair intended to use the jets to expand deportation flights – and for private use.

Those sources also claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had cautioned them that buying planes would be far more expensive than simply expanding existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials facing intense criticism after footage apparently shows unresponsive individual holding infant during arrest.

Making the situation more complex, the airline, which entered bankruptcy protection for the second instance in August, did not possess the aircraft and their engines would have had to be bought separately. The plan has since been paused, according to the investigation.

Meanwhile, Democrats on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this fall's record-long government shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a federal shutdown, the United States Coast Guard signed a single-source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to procure two new G700 luxury jets to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy secretary, at a expense to the taxpayer of $200 million,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a communication to the department.

A department representative informed the outlet that some details in the report about the plane purchases were inaccurate but refused to provide additional clarification.

Congress had earlier authorized the so-called “major immigration bill” in the summer, which dedicates roughly $170bn for immigration and border security operations, a amount that makes ICE the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.

In the autumn, it was reported that the government was moving immigrants detained as part of its removal program in ways that breached their constitutionally protected rights, often by air.

Confidential information examined from charter airline GlobalX outlined the travels of tens of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the country before deportation.