DHS Head Reportedly Approved Purchase of 10 Engineless Spirit Airline Aircraft That Airline Didn't Own
The head of the United States Department of Homeland Security reportedly approved the purchase of Spirit Airline jets before learning that the airline did not actually own the aircraft – and that the aircraft were missing engines.
This strange anecdote was contained in a investigation published on Friday, which described how the official and a ex- campaign manager had recently arranged to buy 10 Boeing 737 aircraft 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 personal travel.
Those insiders also stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had cautioned them that purchasing aircraft would be significantly costlier than simply increasing existing flight contracts.
Immigration officials confronting intense criticism after video apparently shows unresponsive individual clutching child during arrest.
Complicating matters further, the airline, which entered bankruptcy proceedings for the second instance in the summer, did not own the aircraft and their engines would have had to be acquired independently. The plan has since been paused, according to the investigation.
Meanwhile, Democrats on the House appropriations committee said in October that during this fall's historically lengthy federal shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security had already purchased two Gulfstream aircraft for $200m.
“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard entered into a sole source agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to acquire two new G700 luxury jets to facilitate travel for the secretary and the deputy secretary, at a expense to the public of $200 million,” Democratic representatives wrote in a communication to the DHS.
A department representative informed the outlet that some details in the report about the plane purchases were incorrect but declined to offer further details.
Congress had earlier authorized the termed “major immigration bill” in July, which allocates roughly $170 billion for immigration-related and border security operations, a sum that makes Immigration and Customs Enforcement the most well-funded law enforcement agency in the federal government.
In September, it was reported that the administration was transporting immigrants detained as part of its removal program in ways that violated their legal rights, often by air.
Leaked data reviewed from charter airline GlobalX outlined the journeys of thousands of immigrants who have been shuttled around the nation before deportation.
