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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the acquisition of Spirit Airlines aircraft before learning that the airline did not actually own the planes – and that the aircraft lacked engines.

This bizarre incident was contained in a investigation released on Friday, which recounted how the secretary and a former political strategist had recently arranged to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from the airline. People familiar with the situation told the paper that the pair planned to use the planes to increase deportation flights – and for personal travel.

Those sources also stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had cautioned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply expanding existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials confronting intense criticism after footage apparently shows unconscious man holding infant during arrest.

Complicating matters further, the airline, which entered bankruptcy protection for the second instance in the summer, did not own the jets and their power plants would have had to be bought separately. The proposal has since been halted, according to the report.

In the interim, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in October that during this fall's historically lengthy federal shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already purchased two Gulfstream jets for $200 million.

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

A department representative told the Journal that parts of its reporting about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but declined to provide further details.

Congress had previously approved the so-called “major immigration bill” in the summer, which dedicates roughly $170bn for immigration and border-related operations, a sum that makes ICE the most well-funded federal agency in the federal government.

In September, it was reported that the government was transporting immigrants detained as part of its deportation agenda in ways that breached their constitutionally protected rights, often by air.

Confidential information reviewed from charter airline Global Crossing outlined the journeys of tens of thousands of immigrants who have been transported around the nation before removal.