🔗 Share this article

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

This strange incident was contained in a report published on the end of the week, which described how the official and a former political strategist had recently arranged to purchase ten Boeing 737 planes from the airline. People familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the pair planned to use the planes to increase removal flights – and for private use.

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

Immigration officials confronting fierce backlash after video reportedly shows unconscious man holding infant during arrest.

Making the situation more complex, Spirit, which entered bankruptcy protection for the second instance in the summer, did not possess the aircraft and their engines would have had to be acquired independently. The proposal has since been paused, according to the report.

In the interim, Democrats on the House funding panel said in the autumn that during this season's historically lengthy government shutdown, the DHS had already acquired two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the middle of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard entered into a sole source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to acquire two new G700 luxury jets to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy, at a expense to the public of $200m,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the DHS.

A department representative informed the outlet that parts of its reporting about the plane purchases were inaccurate but refused to offer further details.

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

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

Leaked data examined from charter airline Global Crossing detailed the travels of tens of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the country before deportation.