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The secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the purchase of Spirit Airlines aircraft before discovering that the carrier did not actually own the aircraft – and that the planes lacked engines.

This bizarre anecdote was detailed in a report published on the end of the week, which described how the secretary and a ex- campaign manager had recently attempted to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation told the paper that the two intended to use the planes to increase removal flights – and for private use.

Those sources also stated that ICE agents had warned them that buying planes would be far more expensive than simply expanding existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials facing intense criticism after footage apparently shows unresponsive individual holding child during arrest.

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

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this season's record-long federal shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard signed a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to support travel for you and the deputy, at a cost to the taxpayer of $200 million,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a communication to the DHS.

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that some details in the report about the plane purchases were inaccurate but refused to provide further details.

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

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

Leaked data examined from charter airline GlobalX detailed the journeys of tens of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the nation before deportation.