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The secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airlines jets before learning that the airline did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the aircraft lacked power plants.

This strange anecdote was detailed in a investigation published on Friday, which recounted how the official and a former political strategist had recently attempted to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation told the paper that the pair intended to use the jets to increase removal flights – and for private use.

Those insiders also stated that ICE agents had cautioned them that purchasing aircraft would be far more expensive than simply increasing existing flight contracts.

ICE facing intense criticism after footage reportedly shows unresponsive individual clutching child during arrest.

Complicating matters further, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in August, did not own the aircraft 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 appropriations committee said in October that during this fall's record-long federal 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 sole source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure 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 department.

A department representative told the Journal that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but declined to offer further details.

The legislature had previously approved the so-called “major immigration bill” in July, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration-related and border security operations, a sum that makes ICE the most well-funded federal agency in the federal government.

In September, it was reported that the government was transporting immigrants detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that breached their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

Leaked data examined from charter airline Global Crossing detailed the travels of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the country before removal.