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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly authorized the purchase of Spirit Airlines aircraft before learning that the airline did not actually own the aircraft – and that the planes were missing power plants.

This bizarre incident was detailed in a report released on Friday, which described how the official and a ex- political strategist had recently attempted to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. People familiar with the situation told the paper that the pair planned to use the jets to increase removal flights – and for personal travel.

Those insiders also claimed that ICE agents had cautioned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply expanding current charter agreements.

Immigration officials confronting intense criticism after footage apparently shows unresponsive individual clutching child during arrest.

Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which entered bankruptcy protection for the second time in August, did not own the jets and their power plants would have had to be acquired separately. The proposal has since been halted, according to the investigation.

In the interim, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this fall's record-long government shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream jets for $200 million.

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

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

The legislature had earlier authorized the so-called “major immigration bill” in the summer, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration and border security operations, a sum that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most heavily funded federal agency in the US government.

In September, it was reported that the government was moving individuals held as part of its deportation agenda in ways that violated their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

Confidential information examined from charter airline GlobalX outlined the journeys of tens of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the nation before removal.