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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airline jets before discovering that the airline did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the planes lacked power plants.

This strange anecdote was detailed in a report published on the end of the week, which recounted how the official and a ex- political strategist had recently arranged to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. Sources with knowledge told the paper that the two planned to use the jets to expand deportation flights – and for personal travel.

Those insiders also stated that ICE agents had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be far more expensive than simply expanding current charter agreements.

Immigration officials confronting fierce backlash after video apparently shows unresponsive individual holding child during detention.

Complicating matters further, the airline, which entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in August, did not possess the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be bought separately. The proposal has since been halted, according to the investigation.

Meanwhile, Democrats on the House funding panel said in October that during this season'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 middle of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard signed a single-source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to procure two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the public of $200m,” Democratic representatives wrote in a letter to the department.

A department representative told the Journal that parts of its reporting about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but refused to provide further details.

The legislature had earlier authorized the so-called “big, beautiful bill” in the summer, which allocates roughly $170 billion for immigration and border security operations, a amount that makes ICE the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the US government.

In the autumn, it was revealed that the government was moving individuals detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that violated their legal rights, often by air.

Confidential information reviewed from charter airline Global Crossing outlined the journeys of thousands of individuals who have been shuttled around the nation before removal.