Texas Republicans mandated that Democratic lawmakers not be allowed to leave the state house without a permission slip and a police escort.

The Texas Department of Public Safety evacuated protesters from the Texas Capitol on Tuesday after a reported possible threat against lawmakers closed the building and surrounding grounds.

Upon returning after a 15-day walkout, Texas House Democrats were asked for consent to be escorted off the floor by DPS officers. Nicole Collier refused and was locked in the chamber Monday night.

Texas Republicans insisted that Democrats have around-the-clock police escorts to ensure they wouldn’t leave again.

Shortly after, a protest formed inside the Capitol with chants in support of Collier, including four women sitting outside the doors of the chamber Monday night surrounded by dozens of Texas DPS officers. An officer told them, "If you do not leave, you're subject to arrest for trespassing," and then they were handcuffed and taken into custody.

Several Texas state House Democrats ripped up the written agreements that allowed them to leave the chamber with a police escort and returned to the House floor Tuesday night, the caucus announced.