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The head of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the acquisition of Spirit Airline jets before learning that the airline did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the planes lacked power plants.

This bizarre incident was detailed in a report released on Friday, which recounted how the secretary and a ex- campaign manager had recently arranged to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet that the pair planned to use the jets to expand deportation flights – and for personal travel.

Those sources also claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had cautioned them that buying planes would be significantly costlier than simply increasing current charter agreements.

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Complicating matters further, the airline, which filed for bankruptcy protection for the second instance in the summer, did not own the jets and their engines would have had to be acquired separately. The proposal has since been halted, according to the investigation.

In the interim, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in October that during this season's historically lengthy federal shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard entered into a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury jets to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy, at a cost to the taxpayer of $200 million,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the DHS.

A department representative informed the outlet that some details in the report about the plane purchases were incorrect but refused to provide additional clarification.

The legislature had previously approved the so-called “big, beautiful bill” in July, which dedicates roughly $170bn for immigration-related and border-related operations, a amount that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most well-funded federal agency in the federal government.

In September, it was revealed that the administration was moving immigrants held as part of its deportation agenda in ways that violated their legal rights, often by air.

Leaked data examined from private airline GlobalX detailed the journeys of thousands of immigrants who have been transported around the country before removal.