🔗 Share this article

The head of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airlines jets before discovering that the carrier did not actually own the planes – and that the aircraft were missing power plants.

This strange anecdote was contained in a report released on Friday, which recounted how the secretary and a former political strategist had recently arranged to purchase 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 deportation flights – and for private use.

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

Immigration officials facing intense criticism after video reportedly shows unconscious man clutching infant during detention.

Making the situation more complex, the airline, which entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in the summer, did not own the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be bought independently. The proposal has since been paused, according to the investigation.

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

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

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but refused to offer additional clarification.

The legislature had earlier authorized the so-called “major immigration bill” in the summer, which dedicates roughly $170bn for immigration and border security operations, a amount that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most well-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 breached their legal rights, often by plane.

Confidential information reviewed from private airline GlobalX outlined the travels of tens of thousands of immigrants who have been transported around the nation before removal.