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The secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airline aircraft before discovering that the carrier did not truly possess the planes – and that the aircraft lacked engines.

This bizarre anecdote was detailed in a report published on the end of the week, which described how the official and a former political strategist had recently arranged to buy 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the two planned to use the jets to expand removal flights – and for private use.

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

ICE confronting fierce backlash after footage reportedly shows unconscious man holding child during arrest.

Making the situation more complex, the airline, which entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in August, did not own the aircraft and their engines would have had to be bought separately. The plan 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 acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a government shutdown, the US Coast Guard signed a single-source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to acquire two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for you and the deputy, at a expense to the taxpayer of $200m,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the department.

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were incorrect but refused to provide additional clarification.

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

In the autumn, it was revealed that the administration was transporting immigrants detained as part of its removal program in ways that violated their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

Leaked data reviewed from private airline GlobalX outlined the travels of tens of thousands of immigrants who have been transported around the nation before removal.