🔗 Share this article

The secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the acquisition of Spirit Airlines jets before discovering that the carrier did not truly possess the planes – and that the planes were missing power plants.

This bizarre incident was contained in a investigation published on the end of the week, which described how the secretary and a ex- campaign manager had recently attempted to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the two planned to use the jets to expand deportation flights – and for private use.

Those insiders also stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be far more expensive than simply increasing existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials confronting fierce backlash after footage reportedly shows unresponsive individual clutching child during detention.

Complicating matters further, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in August, did not own the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be acquired separately. The proposal has since been paused, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this season's record-long government shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream jets for $200m.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a federal shutdown, the United States Coast Guard entered into a single-source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to support travel for the secretary and the deputy, at a cost to the taxpayer of $200 million,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a communication to the DHS.

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were inaccurate but refused to offer additional clarification.

Congress had previously authorized the termed “big, beautiful bill” in July, which dedicates roughly $170bn for immigration-related and border security operations, a amount that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most well-funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.

In the autumn, it was reported that the administration was moving individuals detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that breached their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

Confidential information reviewed from charter airline GlobalX detailed the journeys of tens of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the country before deportation.