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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the purchase of Spirit Airline aircraft before learning that the airline did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the aircraft were missing engines.

This strange incident was detailed in a investigation released on the end of the week, which described how the secretary and a former campaign manager had recently attempted to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the two planned to use the jets to expand deportation flights – and for private use.

Those sources also claimed that ICE officials had cautioned them that purchasing aircraft would be far more expensive than simply expanding existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials facing intense criticism after video apparently shows unconscious man clutching infant during detention.

Complicating matters further, Spirit, which entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in August, did not own the jets and their power plants would have had to be acquired separately. The plan has since been halted, according to the report.

In the interim, Democrats on the House funding panel said in October that during this season's record-long government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already acquired two Gulfstream jets for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a federal shutdown, the United States Coast Guard signed a single-source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to support travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a expense to the taxpayer of $200m,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a communication to the department.

A DHS spokesperson informed the outlet that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were inaccurate but declined to provide additional clarification.

Congress had previously approved the termed “major immigration bill” in the summer, which allocates roughly $170 billion for immigration and border security operations, a amount that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most heavily funded federal agency in the US government.

In the autumn, it was revealed that the administration was moving individuals held as part of its removal program in ways that violated their legal rights, often by plane.

Leaked data examined from charter airline Global Crossing detailed the travels of tens of thousands of individuals who have been shuttled around the nation before removal.