The Texas Tribune reports:
The last day of this year’s regular session of the Texas Legislature — normally a celebratory, ceremonial affair — was disrupted by hundreds of protesters raising their ire about the state’s new sanctuary cities immigration law. Meanwhile, tensions escalated among lawmakers on the House floor.
The protesters, most of whom were wearing red, packed the gallery of the House of Representatives on Monday. While House members were reading resolutions honoring their staff and clerks, the protesters erupted into chants. Several unfurled banners that said, “See you in court” and “See you at the polls.”
With protesters drowning out the chamber with loud chants from the gallery, lawmakers started arguing with each other. State Rep. Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, told a group of Hispanic members that he had called ICE on the protestors, according to state Rep. César Blanco, D-El Paso and state Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston.
“He came up to us and said, ‘I’m glad I just called ICE to have all these people deported,” Blanco said. Rinaldi “got into people’s faces,” Blanco said. Blanco said he pointed out that Rinaldi is an Italian name and that the Irish and Italians were once treated poorly in this country. “He said, ‘the difference between me and them is that I love this country,'” said Blanco, who added: “It’s just disrespectful.”
.@CesarJBlanco tells me @MattRinaldiTX told Hispanic House members he called ICE on #SB4 protesters, sparking melee
— Jay Root (@byjayroot) May 29, 2017
Just to confirm, @CesarJBlanco sez @MattRinaldiTX told Latino members he called ICE & sed of protesters "we're gonna have 'em all deported."
— Jay Root (@byjayroot) May 29, 2017
Update on skirmish: Dems say Rinaldi threatened to call ICE. Rinaldi says they threatened his life & incited riot. https://t.co/2OfZoRULrD pic.twitter.com/dR93bbKd5i
— Matthew Watkins (@MWatkinsTrib) May 29, 2017
TX democrats holding press conference on Rinaldi incident #txlege pic.twitter.com/PbHgnykppn
— Sanya Mansoor (@sanyamansoor94) May 29, 2017
@EmilyJDonaldson @TexasHouse Several reps say Matt Rinaldi walked over to a group of Hispanic reps and said he called ICE on the #SB4 protestors
— Ashley Goudeau (@AshleyG_KVUE) May 29, 2017
So there is (or was) apparently video of Rinaldi calling ICE. #txlege pic.twitter.com/EWWC7ps81T
— Bobby Blanchard (@bobbycblanchard) May 29, 2017