Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) suggested that a group of migrants who flipped off reporters should be thrown out of helicopters via “Pinochet Air.”
On Wednesday, an undocumented migrant, who was arrested for taking part in an attack on two NYPD officers, flipped off reporters after being released from custody. Jhoan Boada, 22, gave the middle finger after being charged with assaulting a police officer and gang assault in Times Square over the weekend.
Conservatives online and pundits on cable news reacted with rage as six other migrants who were charged in connection to the attack have also been released on bail.
The Georgia lawmaker took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to air out his frustration by calling for the migrants to be dropped out of helicopters to their deaths.
Collins responded to a tweet from Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (D-NY), who demanded the migrants be sent back to Mexico, by stating, “Or we could buy him a ticket on Pinochet Air for a free helicopter ride back.”
His phrase “Pinochet Air” is a reference to the Chilean military dictator Augusto Pinochet, who was known for throwing political enemies and left-wing dissidents out of helicopters.
Collins’ tweet was later deleted by X for violating the platform’s terms of service.
MSNBC anchor Chris Hayes reacted to Collins’ tweet by noting, “I think sitting members of congress calling for murdering people using the Pinochet regime’
CORRECTION: This article originally stated Pinochet was the leader of Argentina. He was the leader of Chile.
Watch the clip above via Fox News.