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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 airline did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the aircraft were missing engines.

This strange incident was detailed in a report published on Friday, which described how the official and a ex- campaign manager had recently arranged to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the two intended to use the planes to increase removal flights – and for private use.

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

Immigration officials confronting intense criticism after video reportedly shows unconscious man holding infant during arrest.

Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in the summer, did not possess the jets and their engines would have had to be bought independently. The plan has since been paused, according to the investigation.

In the interim, Democratic lawmakers on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this season's historically lengthy government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already acquired two Gulfstream jets for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the US Coast Guard signed a single-source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate travel for the secretary 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 plane purchases were inaccurate but declined to provide further details.

Congress had previously approved the so-called “major immigration bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170bn for immigration-related and border security operations, a sum that makes ICE the most well-funded law enforcement agency in the US government.

In the autumn, it was revealed that the administration was transporting individuals detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that breached their legal rights, often by plane.

Leaked data reviewed from charter airline Global Crossing detailed the journeys of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the nation before removal.