🔗 Share this article

The secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airlines aircraft before discovering that the airline did not actually own the aircraft – and that the planes lacked power plants.

This bizarre incident was detailed in a investigation released on Friday, which described how the official and a former campaign manager had recently attempted to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the two intended to use the planes to expand deportation flights – and for personal travel.

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

Immigration officials facing fierce backlash after footage apparently shows unconscious man clutching infant during arrest.

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

In the interim, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this fall's record-long government shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream jets for $200 million.

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

A DHS spokesperson informed the outlet that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were inaccurate but refused to provide additional clarification.

The legislature had earlier authorized the termed “big, beautiful bill” in the summer, which dedicates roughly $170bn for immigration and border-related operations, a amount that makes ICE the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.

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

Leaked data reviewed from charter airline GlobalX outlined the journeys of thousands of immigrants who have been transported around the nation before deportation.