Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa)
Image AP

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, is facing heavy opposition following his comments indicating that young, undocumented immigrats were drug mules. Since Thursday's comments, petitions have started calling for him to be dropped from his seat on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Border Security. The multiple petitions have collectively reached 100,000 signatures.

"For every one who's a valedictorian, there's another 100 out there who weigh 130 pounds -- and they've got calves the size of cantaloupes because they're hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert," he said in an interview with Newsmax, which started the controversy.

RELATED: Immigration Reform 2013: DREAMers Deliver Cantaloupes To Steve King Office

Petions started by Credo and the Democratic National Campaign Committee gained more than 40,000 and 76,000 signatures respectively, spokespersons for the organizations told the Huffington Post. King has not wavered on his comments. He defended his words on ABC News as "anything but ignorant." The Credo petition states that King remaining in his position shows a lack of dedication from Congress to true immigration reform.

"The fact that House leadership have allowed King to keep his position send [sic] the message that they're not actually interested in real immigration reform," the petition read.

RELATED: Immigration Reform 2013: Steve King Delivers Roundabout Defense In Speech On House Floor [VIDEO]

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