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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly authorized the purchase of Spirit Airline jets before discovering that the airline did not actually own the planes – and that the aircraft lacked engines.

This bizarre anecdote was detailed in a report published on the end of the week, which recounted how the official and a former campaign manager had recently attempted to buy 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. Sources with knowledge told the paper that the two intended to use the planes to expand deportation flights – and for private use.

Those sources also stated that ICE agents had warned them that buying planes would be far more expensive than simply expanding existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials confronting fierce backlash after footage reportedly shows unresponsive individual holding infant during detention.

Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in August, did not possess the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be bought independently. The proposal has since been paused, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in October that during this season's historically lengthy government shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.

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

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that some details in the report about the plane purchases were incorrect but declined to provide further details.

Congress had earlier authorized the so-called “major immigration bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170bn for immigration-related and border security operations, a sum that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most well-funded law enforcement agency in the US government.

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

Confidential information examined from private airline GlobalX detailed the travels of tens of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the nation before removal.