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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airlines jets before learning that the carrier did not truly possess the planes – and that the planes lacked engines.

This bizarre incident was contained in a investigation published on Friday, which described how the secretary and a former political strategist had recently arranged to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the pair planned to use the jets to expand deportation flights – and for personal travel.

Those insiders also stated that ICE agents had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply increasing current charter agreements.

Immigration officials confronting fierce backlash after video apparently shows unconscious man clutching infant during detention.

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

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers on the House appropriations committee said in October that during this fall's historically lengthy government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard signed a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the public of $200m,” Democratic representatives wrote in a letter to the department.

A DHS spokesperson informed the outlet that parts of its reporting about the aircraft acquisitions were inaccurate but refused to offer additional clarification.

The legislature had earlier approved the termed “major immigration bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170 billion for immigration and border-related operations, a amount that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the US 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.

Confidential information reviewed from private airline GlobalX detailed the travels of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the country before deportation.