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

This bizarre anecdote was detailed in a investigation released on Friday, which recounted how the secretary and a ex- political strategist had recently arranged to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the pair intended to use the planes to increase deportation flights – and for personal travel.

Those insiders also stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had cautioned them that buying planes would be far more expensive than simply increasing current charter agreements.

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Complicating matters further, the airline, which entered bankruptcy protection for the second instance in August, did not possess the jets and their power plants would have had to be bought independently. The plan has since been paused, according to the investigation.

In the interim, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this fall's record-long federal shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a federal shutdown, the United States Coast Guard signed a single-source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to procure two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate travel for you and the deputy, at a cost to the public of $200m,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a communication to the department.

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but refused to provide additional clarification.

Congress had previously authorized the termed “major immigration bill” in the summer, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration and border-related operations, a sum that makes ICE the most well-funded federal agency in the US government.

In September, it was reported that the government was moving individuals held as part of its removal program in ways that breached their legal rights, often by air.

Leaked data reviewed from charter airline Global Crossing detailed the travels of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the nation before removal.