Texas pols in ugly faceoff over immigs

A SCUFFLE allegedly broke out between two Texas state representatives on the House floor in Austin on Monday after one of them called immigration officials on protesters opposing a new bill that clamps down on sanctuary cities.

Hundreds of protesters wearing “Lucha” — Spanish for “fight” — T-shirts waved signs that read, “See you in court!” as they chanted, “Here to stay,” and, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, SB4 has got to go.”

The demonstration was in response to Senate Bill 4, which Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law. The bill requires local law enforcement to inquire about a person’s immigration status and cooperate with the federal government.

Rep. Ramon Romero (D-Fort Worth) engaged in a heated exchange with Rep. Matt Rinaldi (R-Irving) on the House floor on the last day of the Legislature’s regular session.

Witnesses said Rinaldi approached several Hispanic lawmakers and said he had called Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on the protesters.

“He came up to us and said, ‘I’m glad I just called ICE to have all these people deported,’ ” Rep. Cesar Blanco (D-El Paso) told the Texas Tribune.

House rules prohibit protesters from cheering or jeering. They were eventually escorted out by Texas Public Safety Department officers.

“Matt Rinaldi looked into the gallery and saw Hispanic people and automatically assumed they were undocumented,” Romero told the newspaper.

“He racially profiled every single person that was in the gallery today. He created the scenario that so many of us fear.”

Rinaldi defended himself in a statement and claimed Romero had “physically assaulted” him.