🔗 Share this article

The secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security allegedly authorized the purchase of Spirit Airline jets before learning that the airline did not truly possess the planes – and that the aircraft lacked power plants.

This bizarre incident was contained in a investigation released on Friday, which recounted how the official and a ex- political strategist had recently attempted to purchase 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the two intended to use the planes to expand removal flights – and for personal travel.

Those sources also claimed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had warned them that buying planes would be far more expensive than simply increasing existing flight contracts.

ICE facing intense criticism after video reportedly shows unconscious man holding child during detention.

Complicating matters further, Spirit, which entered bankruptcy protection for the second instance in the summer, did not own the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be acquired separately. The proposal has since been paused, according to the investigation.

In the interim, Democratic lawmakers on the House appropriations committee said in October that during this fall's historically lengthy government shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream jets 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 to procure two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy secretary, at a cost to the public of $200 million,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the department.

A DHS spokesperson informed the outlet that some details in the report about the plane purchases were incorrect but refused to offer additional clarification.

The legislature had earlier authorized the termed “big, beautiful bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170bn for immigration-related and border-related operations, a sum that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most well-funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.

In the autumn, it was revealed that the government was transporting immigrants held as part of its removal program in ways that violated their constitutionally protected rights, often by plane.

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