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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the acquisition of Spirit Airline aircraft before discovering that the airline did not actually own the planes – and that the planes lacked power plants.

This bizarre anecdote was contained in a report published on the end of the week, which described how the official and a former political strategist had recently attempted to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. Sources with knowledge told the paper that the two planned to use the jets to expand deportation flights – and for private use.

Those insiders also claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply increasing current charter agreements.

ICE confronting fierce backlash after footage reportedly shows unresponsive individual holding child during detention.

Complicating matters further, the airline, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in the summer, did not possess the jets and their engines would have had to be bought separately. The proposal has since been halted, according to the investigation.

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this season's historically lengthy government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already purchased 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 to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate travel for you and the deputy, at a expense to the public of $200m,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the DHS.

A department representative told the Journal that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were inaccurate but refused to provide additional clarification.

The legislature had previously authorized the termed “major immigration bill” in the summer, which dedicates 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 US government.

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

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