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The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the acquisition of Spirit Airline jets before learning that the carrier did not actually own the aircraft – and that the planes lacked power plants.

This strange anecdote was detailed in a investigation released on Friday, which described how the official and a ex- political strategist had recently arranged to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the two planned to use the planes to increase removal flights – and for personal travel.

Those insiders also stated that ICE agents had cautioned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply increasing existing flight contracts.

Immigration officials facing fierce backlash after video reportedly shows unconscious man holding infant during detention.

Complicating matters further, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in the summer, did not own the aircraft and their engines would have had to be bought independently. The plan has since been halted, according to the investigation.

In the interim, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in October that during this fall's historically lengthy federal shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.

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

A department representative told the Journal that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were inaccurate but refused to provide additional clarification.

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

In September, it was reported that the administration was transporting immigrants held as part of its removal program in ways that breached their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

Confidential information reviewed from private airline GlobalX outlined the travels of tens of thousands of immigrants who have been transported around the nation before removal.