Texas Dems Attack GOP Rep. For Calling ICE On Illegal Immigrant Protesters At Texas Capitol

As legislators discussed a recent law outlawing sanctuary cities in Texas, Representative Matt Rinaldi (R-Irving) noticed protesters in the House gallery holdings signs reading, “I am illegal and am here to stay.” They were joined by other protesters outside the Capitol

Rinaldi remarked to several legislators that he thought he should call ICE and have the illegal immigrants taken into custody. At the same time, Democrat representatives were encouraging the demonstrators.

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers removed the protesters from the gallery after they became disruptive and held up signs protesting the state’s new sanctuary city law. Rinaldi claimed he called ICE after “several Democrats encouraged the protesters to disobey law enforcement.”

Rinaldi claims he was assaulted by Rep. Ramon Romero (D-Fort Worth) after he told some of the Democrats he called ICE. Several of his colleagues are believed to have heard the threats and witnessed the assault.

Afterward, Rinaldi accused Representative Poncho Nevarez (D-Eagle Pass) of threatening his life. The accusation appeared on Rinaldi’s Facebook page.

Nevarez completely contradicted Rinaldi’s account of the events on the House floor.

The representative from South Texas revealed that while tempers did flare during the heated session, the only threats came from Rinaldi who said “he would put a bullet in (Nevarez’s) head.”

The Democrats blame Rinaldi for the situation, claiming he bragged to fellow Republicans that he’d called ICE about the illegal immigrant protesters. The situation quickly disintegrated into the shoving match that was filmed on the House floor.

RInaldi later claimed that Nevarez threatened to “get him” on the way to his car. Nevarez denied the threat, calling Rinaldi an “unstable individual.” The Democrats further alleged that Rinaldi threatened to “put a bullet” in Nevarez’s head.

Rinaldi addresses that in hist post, writing that, “I made it clear that if he attempted to, in his words, ‘get me,’ I would shoot him in self defense. I am currently under DPS protection. Several of my colleagues heard the threats made and witnessed Ramon assaulting me.”

In response, Nevarez took to Twitter to call Rinaldi a “liar and hateful man,” whom he has “no use” for.

Whatever the “he said, he said” of the event really is, once again the political world has been upended by left-leaning politicians becoming violent in order to make a point or get their way. There’s no doubt that Democrats were the ones trying to assault Rinaldi on the House floor.

With the Legislature’s adjournment for the year yesterday, Senate Bill 4 remains the law of the state regarding sanctuary cities.

The law prohibits sheriffs and police chiefs from ignoring immigration detainers and prohibits them from having policies forbidding officers from asking about immigration status becomes effective on September 1, 2017. The bill provides civil fines and even criminal penalties to law enforcement officials choosing to ignore immigration authorities.”

The Texas Legislature meets only every other year. In order for there to be any change to existing law or any laws enacted prior to the next session, the governor would have to call a special session of the legislature.

It’s not known if any of the protesters were actually detained by ICE as a result of Rinaldi’s alleged phone call.

Begins at 1:50:

https://twitter.com/Cernovich/status/869293986585772032

Protesters in Capitol rotunda right now #sb4 #txlege pic.twitter.com/iKpdxoaTR3

— James Barragán (@James_Barragan) May 29, 2017

Joaquin Castro denounces Matt Rinaldi for calling ICE when hundreds protested against #SB4 in House gallery pic.twitter.com/v731qOARXa

— James Barragán (@James_Barragan) May 29, 2017

A statement regarding today. pic.twitter.com/M0BcBXa43P

— Matt Rinaldi (@MattRinaldiTX) May 29, 2017

Source: Daily Caller