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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airline aircraft before discovering that the carrier did not actually own the planes – and that the planes were missing engines.

This bizarre incident was contained in a report released on the end of the week, which described how the official and a ex- campaign manager had recently arranged to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. People familiar with the situation told the paper that the pair intended to use the jets to increase deportation flights – and for private use.

Those insiders also stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had cautioned them that buying planes would be significantly costlier than simply increasing existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials facing fierce backlash after footage apparently shows unconscious man holding infant during detention.

Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy protection for the second instance in August, did not own the jets and their engines would have had to be bought independently. The plan has since been paused, according to the investigation.

Meanwhile, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in October that during this season's historically lengthy federal shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already acquired two Gulfstream jets for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a federal shutdown, the US Coast Guard entered into a sole source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation 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 informed the outlet that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were inaccurate but declined to offer further details.

The legislature had earlier authorized the so-called “major immigration bill” in July, which dedicates roughly $170bn for immigration-related and border security operations, a amount that makes ICE the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.

In the autumn, it was revealed that the administration was transporting immigrants detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that breached their legal rights, often by plane.

Confidential information examined from charter airline GlobalX outlined the travels of tens of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the country before removal.