🔗 Share this article

The secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security allegedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airline aircraft before learning 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 Friday, which recounted how the official and a ex- political strategist had recently attempted to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet that the two planned to use the planes to expand removal flights – and for personal travel.

Those sources also claimed that ICE officials had warned them that buying planes would be far more expensive than simply increasing current charter agreements.

Immigration officials facing intense criticism after footage apparently shows unresponsive individual holding infant during detention.

Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in the summer, did not own the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be acquired independently. The plan has since been halted, according to the report.

In the interim, Democratic lawmakers on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this fall's historically lengthy government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already acquired 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 agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to procure two new G700 luxury aircraft to facilitate travel for you and the deputy secretary, at a expense to the taxpayer of $200 million,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a communication to the department.

A department representative told the Journal that parts of its reporting about the aircraft acquisitions were inaccurate but refused to offer additional clarification.

Congress had previously approved the so-called “big, beautiful bill” in the summer, which dedicates roughly $170 billion for immigration-related and border-related operations, a sum that makes ICE the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.

In the autumn, it was reported that the government was transporting immigrants detained as part of its removal program in ways that breached their legal rights, often by air.

Confidential information reviewed from private airline GlobalX detailed the journeys of tens of thousands of individuals who have been shuttled around the country before deportation.