A San Antonio State Representative who was at the center of a fight, this week, on the Texas House floor is vowing to pursue legal action again his colleague who threatened violence during a protest over a so-called sanctuary city law.
"He showed his true colors and finally put a face to some of the racist intent behind the show-me-your-papers law," State Rep Philip Cortez tells Newsradio 1200 WOAI.
The incident happened on the last day of the legislative session. The House was interrupted by protestors, upset by a bill passed by the legislature, outlawing sanctuary cities. Police officers are allowed, but not required to check the immigration status of those detained.
One of the signs held high read, "I am illegal and here to stay."
State Rep Matt Rinaldi (R-Irving) was seen on video getting into the faces of several Latino lawmakers, and can be heard cursing repeatedly. Cortez (D-San Antonio) says he claimed to have called Immigration and Customs Enforcement to have them deported.
"He pointed up to the gallery and said that he called ICE on all of them. They're illegals. How does he know their status," Cortez questions.
ICE has no record of receiving any calls from the Capitol at the time the incident was happening.
During the kerfuffle, Representative Poncho Nevarez had heated words with Rinaldi, reportedly threatening a fight in the parking lot.
"He later approached me and reiterated that "I had to leave at some point, and he would get me," Rinaldi wrote on Facebook.” I made it clear that if he attempted to, in his words, "get me," I would shoot him in self-defense."
Cortez is now pushing to have Rinaldi censured, which is a formal disapproval.
"We're going to stand up to him," he explained.
Cortez also promises to use the bizarre fight in court when lawsuits against the sanctuary city law go before a judge. He says its proof that the law is blatantly discriminatory.
El Paso, Austin and El Cenizo are suing the state. San Antonio is considering whether to join, as is Dallas. Houston will decide when the legislative session is over.