Video has emerged showing representatives in the Texas State House nearly coming to blows over a bill that could hurt undocumented migrants across the state.

The scuffle took place after a Republican lawmaker said he had alerted immigration authorities over protesters in the Capitol building.

Both sides of the legislature blamed each other for the incident which revolved around Republican Rep. Matt Rinaldi. He had accused Democratic Representative, Poncho Nevarez, of threatening his life after he called immigration authorities over "several illegal immigrants who held signs in the gallery which said 'I am illegal and here to stay.'"

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Rinaldi then said that another Democratic representative, Ramon Romero "physically assaulted" him, then "Poncho told me that he would 'get me on the way to my car'", something Rinaldi says he later repeated.

"I made it clear that if he attempted to, in his words, 'get me,' I would shoot him in self defense." Rinaldi said.

Another Democratic representative, Philip Cortez, told the Washington Post that Rinaldi "came up to us" and pointedly said he had called immigration authorities. "This is completely unacceptable. We will not be intimidated. We will not be disrespected."

Represenative Poncho Navarez wrote on Twitter that Rinaldi is "a liar and hateful man", quoting Rinaldi's comments on the incident.

Protests have been taking place at the Texas State Capitol since Governor Greg Abbott signing Senate Bill 4 into law which effectively bans sanctuary cities and gives police the right to question people's immigration status.

Immigrant organisation, United We Dream, who took part in the protest, said they were protesting the "racist" law.

It added: "Underscoring the racist intent of the new law, a Republican lawmaker claimed to have called immigration agents on the group, which included people of all immigration backgrounds and to put a "bullet in the head" of a Democratic lawmaker."