Speaker Johnson Proposes Other Nations Adopt Colombia’s Model of Providing Presidential Planes for Deportations

DORAL, Fla.—During an important House GOP conference, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) proposed that other nations might benefit from following Colombia’s lead in utilizing their presidential aircraft to transport illegal immigrants detained in the United States.

“We were more than willing to return them,” Johnson mentioned to reporters on Jan. 27 at the Trump National Doral Miami, where House Republicans gathered to deliberate a reconciliation package alongside other key agendas.

The speaker’s remarks came after a short but intense dialogue between the Colombian government and the United States regarding the repatriation of Colombian nationals the U.S. aimed to transport back to their homeland.

In response to Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s announcement that Colombia had halted authorization for a deportation flight, Colombian President Gustavo Petro stated on X that he “never refused to accept migrants,” while also voicing concerns over the treatment of illegal aliens being returned from the U.S.

“We will take back our citizens on civilian planes, without treating them like criminals,” Petro stated.

President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff and sanctions on Colombia unless the nation consented to the deportation flights, triggering discussions of retaliatory tariffs from Colombia’s leadership.

Related Stories

Later that same day, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt released a statement from the White House confirming that Colombia had adhered to U.S. requests, clarifying that proposed tariffs and sanctions “will be kept in reserve and only enacted if Colombia fails to uphold this agreement.”

“The events of today demonstrate to the world that America is once again respected,” she asserted.

Colombian Foreign Minister Gilberto Murillo confirmed an agreement had been achieved, stating that Colombia’s presidential aircraft is “prepared to assist in the return of Colombians who were scheduled to land in the country this morning on deportation flights.”

Johnson, pivotal to a Republican majority, portrayed the communication between the two nations’ leaders as an evident sign of U.S. success.

“After the president discussed the situation with the president of Colombia, we saw a significant turnaround,” he remarked.

Johnson indicated that Congress would persist in supporting the president regarding illegal immigration, sending a message to countries that now bear the responsibility for accepting their citizens who were unlawfully present in the U.S. and are being returned.

“You must accept back your illegal immigrants who originated from your nation, and if you refuse, we will take action and implement sanctions or other suitable measures to support the president’s agenda. This is what the American people expect,” he stated.

Johnson also commented on the wildfire aid for California, a contentious topic following Trump’s indication that conditions could be attached. Trump mentioned that the state would need to revise its water management practices and voter ID policy. Currently, local Californian authorities cannot request ID from voters at polling places.

When questioned whether wildfire assistance would depend on changes to California’s voter ID regulations, Johnson replied, “We need to iron out some specifics on that. I haven’t had a conversation with the president regarding this matter.”

He noted that the topic would be on the agenda for an upcoming dinner at Trump National Doral Miami, where the retreat’s first day included a speech by the president.

Moreover, Johnson addressed issues surrounding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which faced criticism following Hurricane Helene’s impact in western North Carolina and other Appalachian regions in late September 2024.

On Jan. 24, Trump stated to reporters in Fletcher, North Carolina, that the agency could potentially be dissolved.

At the press conference on Jan. 27, Johnson referenced his personal experience with FEMA as a representative from Louisiana, a state frequently affected by disasters. Two decades ago, the agency’s performance after Hurricane Katrina sparked calls for reform.

“Often, while local FEMA workers perform effectively, it’s usually the upper management that can significantly influence how a disaster response unfolds,” he remarked.

He stated that the president’s FEMA council is “long overdue,” and assured that House Republicans would support the initiative as necessary.

House Democrats strongly condemned the firings in a letter, stating that they “violate the law, undermine our democracy, and jeopardize the safety of the American populace.”

Johnson defended Trump’s decisions, asserting that inspectors general play a vital role in identifying governmental mismanagement, aligning with what he described as essential GOP goals.

“I believe that perhaps some fresh perspectives would be beneficial,” he noted.