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The head of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the purchase of Spirit Airlines aircraft before learning that the carrier did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the planes lacked engines.

This strange incident was detailed in a investigation released on the end of the week, which recounted how the secretary and a former political strategist had recently arranged to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the two intended to use the planes to expand removal flights – and for private use.

Those sources also claimed that ICE agents had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply increasing current charter agreements.

Immigration officials confronting fierce backlash after footage reportedly shows unconscious man clutching child during detention.

Making the situation more complex, the airline, which filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in the summer, did not possess the aircraft and their engines would have had to be acquired separately. The proposal has since been halted, according to the report.

In the interim, Democrats on the House funding panel said in October that during this fall's historically lengthy government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already acquired two Gulfstream jets for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard entered into a sole source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy secretary, at a expense to the taxpayer of $200m,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the DHS.

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were inaccurate but refused to offer further details.

Congress had previously approved the termed “big, beautiful bill” in the summer, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration-related 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 revealed that the government was transporting immigrants detained as part of its removal program in ways that violated their legal rights, often by plane.

Leaked data reviewed from private airline Global Crossing outlined the journeys of thousands of immigrants who have been transported around the country before deportation.