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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airline jets before discovering that the airline did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the aircraft were missing engines.

This bizarre anecdote was detailed in a investigation released on Friday, which recounted how the official and a ex- campaign manager had recently arranged to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. People familiar with the situation told the paper that the pair intended to use the planes to increase removal flights – and for private use.

Those sources also claimed that ICE agents had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be far more expensive than simply expanding existing flight contracts.

ICE facing intense criticism after footage reportedly shows unresponsive individual holding child during detention.

Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy protection for the second instance in the summer, did not possess the aircraft and their engines would have had to be acquired independently. The plan has since been paused, according to the report.

In the interim, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this season's historically lengthy federal shutdown, the DHS had already purchased 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 agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to support travel for the secretary and the deputy, at a expense to the taxpayer of $200m,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the department.

A department representative informed the outlet that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but declined to provide further details.

Congress had earlier authorized the termed “major immigration bill” in the summer, which dedicates roughly $170bn for immigration-related and border security operations, a sum that makes ICE the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.

In September, 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.

Confidential information reviewed from charter airline GlobalX detailed the journeys of tens of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the nation before deportation.