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The head of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airlines aircraft before discovering that the airline did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the aircraft were missing power plants.

This strange anecdote was detailed in a report released on the end of the week, which described how the official and a former campaign manager had recently arranged to buy 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet that the two intended 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 video apparently shows unresponsive individual holding infant during detention.

Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in the summer, did not possess the jets and their power plants would have had to be acquired independently. The plan has since been halted, according to the report.

In the interim, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in October that during this fall's record-long government shutdown, the DHS had already purchased 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 contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury jets to facilitate travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a expense to the public of $200 million,” Democratic representatives 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 previously authorized the so-called “major immigration bill” in the summer, which allocates roughly $170bn for immigration-related and border security operations, a sum that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the US 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 plane.

Confidential information reviewed from private airline GlobalX outlined the journeys of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the nation before deportation.