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

This bizarre anecdote was contained in a investigation published on the end of the week, which recounted how the official and a ex- campaign manager had recently attempted to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. Sources with knowledge told the paper that the pair intended to use the planes to increase removal flights – and for personal travel.

Those sources also stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had warned them that buying planes would be far more expensive than simply expanding current charter agreements.

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

Meanwhile, Democrats on the House appropriations committee 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 contract with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy, at a cost to the public of $200m,” Democratic representatives wrote in a letter to the department.

A DHS spokesperson told the Journal that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were incorrect but declined to provide further details.

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

In September, it was revealed that the administration was moving immigrants held as part of its deportation agenda in ways that violated their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

Leaked data reviewed from private airline Global Crossing detailed the travels of thousands of immigrants who have been transported around the nation before deportation.