🔗 Share this article

The secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the acquisition of Spirit Airline jets before discovering that the carrier did not truly possess the planes – and that the aircraft were missing engines.

This strange incident was contained in a report released on Friday, which recounted how the secretary and a ex- campaign manager had recently attempted to buy ten Boeing 737 planes from Spirit Airlines. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet that the two planned to use the jets to expand removal flights – and for private use.

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

Immigration officials confronting fierce backlash after video apparently shows unresponsive individual holding infant during detention.

Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in the summer, did not possess the aircraft and their power plants would have had to be bought separately. The plan has since been halted, according to the investigation.

In the interim, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in the autumn that during this season's historically lengthy federal shutdown, the DHS had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard signed a single-source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury aircraft to support travel for the secretary and the deputy secretary, at a expense to the taxpayer of $200 million,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the DHS.

A department representative told the Journal that some details in the report about the aircraft acquisitions were incorrect but declined to provide further details.

Congress had earlier authorized the so-called “major immigration bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170 billion for immigration-related and border security operations, a sum that makes ICE the most heavily funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.

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

Confidential information examined from charter airline Global Crossing outlined the journeys of thousands of individuals who have been transported around the country before removal.