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The secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security allegedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airlines aircraft before discovering that the carrier did not actually own the planes – and that the aircraft were missing power plants.

This bizarre incident was contained in a report released on the end of the week, which described how the official and a ex- political strategist had recently attempted to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet that the pair planned to use the planes to expand deportation flights – and for private use.

Those sources also claimed that ICE officials had warned them that buying planes would be far more expensive than simply increasing existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials facing intense criticism after video reportedly shows unresponsive individual holding infant during detention.

Complicating matters further, the airline, which entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in the summer, did not possess the aircraft and their engines would have had to be acquired separately. The proposal 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 federal shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard signed a sole source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to acquire two new G700 luxury jets to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy, at a cost to the taxpayer of $200m,” Democratic representatives wrote in a letter to the DHS.

A DHS spokesperson informed the outlet that some details in the report about the plane purchases were incorrect but declined to provide additional clarification.

Congress had earlier approved the so-called “major immigration bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170bn for immigration and border-related operations, a amount that makes ICE the most well-funded federal agency in the US government.

In the autumn, it was revealed that the administration was moving individuals held as part of its removal program in ways that violated their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

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