DHS Head Reportedly Approved Purchase of Ten Engine-Free Spirit Airlines Aircraft That Airline Didn't Own

The head of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly authorized the purchase of Spirit Airlines aircraft before discovering that the carrier did not truly possess the aircraft – and that the aircraft were missing power plants.

This strange incident was contained in a report published on the end of the week, which described how the secretary and a former political strategist had recently arranged to buy 10 Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. Sources with knowledge informed the outlet that the two intended to use the jets to expand removal flights – and for personal travel.

Those insiders also stated that ICE agents had warned them that purchasing aircraft would be far more expensive than simply expanding current charter agreements.

Immigration officials facing intense criticism after footage reportedly shows unresponsive individual holding child during detention.

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

In the interim, Democrats on the House funding panel said in October that during this fall's historically lengthy federal shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200 million.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the US Coast Guard entered into a single-source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to procure two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for the secretary and the deputy, at a expense to the public of $200m,” Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the department.

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

Congress had previously approved the termed “major immigration bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170 billion for immigration-related and border-related operations, a amount that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement 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 deportation agenda in ways that breached their legal rights, often by air.

Leaked data reviewed from private airline GlobalX outlined the journeys of tens of thousands of individuals who have been shuttled around the nation before removal.