Texas lawmaker threatens to shoot colleague over immigration fight

A Republican Texas state representative said he would "shoot" a Democratic representative after being threatened.

During a protest at the state house over a controversial immigration bill, Matt Rinaldi was apparently threatened by representative Alfonso Poncho Nevarez.

Rinaldi said in a Facebook post that he called ICE because some of the protesters held signs that read, "I am illegal and here to stay."

After Rinaldi told Democrats what he had done, he says Rep. Ramon Romero "physically assaulted" him and that Nevarez said, ''he would get Rinaldi on the way to his car."

Romero Jr. called the claims of assault "completely baseless."

Rinaldi said he was under DPS protection and would shoot Nevarez in "self-defense" if he tried to hurt him.

Senate Bill 4, which was signed into law by Governor Abbott, bans sanctuary cities and punishes local governments that don't comply with law enforcement to detain people suspected of being undocumented.

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