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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved 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 bizarre anecdote was detailed in a report released on Friday, which recounted how the official and a ex- campaign manager had recently arranged to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the two planned to use the jets to increase deportation flights – and for private use.

Those insiders also claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had cautioned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply expanding existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials confronting fierce backlash after footage apparently shows unresponsive individual holding infant during detention.

Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in August, 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.

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in October that during this season's record-long government shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a federal shutdown, the United States Coast Guard entered into a single-source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to acquire two new G700 luxury jets to facilitate travel for you and the deputy, at a cost to the public of $200m,” Democratic representatives wrote in a letter to the DHS.

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

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

In September, it was revealed that the administration was transporting individuals detained as part of its removal program in ways that violated their legal rights, often by plane.

Confidential information reviewed from charter airline Global Crossing detailed the journeys of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the nation before deportation.