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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly authorized the purchase of Spirit Airline jets before learning that the carrier did not truly possess the planes – and that the planes lacked power plants.

This strange anecdote was contained in a investigation released on Friday, which described how the secretary and a former political strategist had recently attempted to buy 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the two intended to use the jets to expand removal flights – and for personal travel.

Those insiders also claimed that ICE agents had cautioned them that buying planes would be far more expensive than simply expanding existing flight contracts.

ICE facing intense criticism after footage reportedly shows unresponsive individual holding infant during detention.

Complicating matters further, the airline, which filed for bankruptcy protection for the second instance in August, did not possess the aircraft and their engines would have had to be bought separately. The plan has since been halted, according to the report.

In the interim, Democrats on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this fall's historically lengthy federal 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 federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard signed a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to support travel for the secretary and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the public of $200 million,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the department.

A department representative informed the outlet that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were incorrect but declined to offer additional clarification.

The legislature had previously approved the so-called “big, beautiful bill” in July, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration-related and border security operations, a amount that makes ICE the most well-funded federal agency in the federal government.

In the autumn, it was reported that the administration was moving individuals detained as part of its removal program in ways that breached their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

Leaked data examined from private airline Global Crossing outlined the journeys of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the nation before deportation.