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

This strange anecdote was contained in a report published on Friday, which recounted how the secretary and a ex- political strategist had recently attempted to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the pair planned to use the planes to increase removal 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 increasing existing flight contracts.

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

Making the situation more complex, the airline, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in August, did not own the aircraft and their engines would have had to be bought independently. The plan has since been paused, according to the report.

In the interim, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this season's historically lengthy government shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream jets for $200m.

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

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that some details in the report about the plane purchases were inaccurate but refused to provide additional clarification.

Congress had earlier approved the termed “big, beautiful bill” in the summer, which allocates roughly $170 billion for immigration and border-related operations, a amount that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most well-funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.

In the autumn, it was revealed that the administration was moving immigrants held as part of its deportation agenda in ways that breached their legal rights, often by plane.

Leaked data reviewed from private airline Global Crossing detailed the journeys of tens of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the country before removal.