Talking Points: Speaking out about Newton’s response to ICE

Introduction

On Wednesday, April 15th, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., in the Newton City Hall Council Chamber, the City Council’s Public Safety & Transportation Committee has scheduled a meeting to hear public testimony on residents’ concerns about ICE, including how we would like the City to respond to ICE activity in Newton. Please show up and wear yellow in solidarity!

Take a look at the Meeting Agenda.

A new page on the city’s website, Immigration Rights & Resources, contains the city’s latest policies and commitments; examine it to see how well the city is aligned with your position.

Newton Needs to do More to Respond to ICE

The Mayor’s Executive Order is a good start, but it does not go far enough to spell out exactly what steps the City will take to implement the Order. 

The City should do the following:

• Post signs designating all non-public spaces that ICE and other federal agents are not permitted to enter without a judicial warrant. 
• Newton should provide residents with written information about their rights regarding ICE raids.
• Widely publicize the LUCE hotline and resources for legal representation if someone is detained by ICE. 
• The City should create signs for Newton businesses to designate Private Areas that federal agents cannot enter without the business’s management’s permission, and provide businesses with a Know Your Rights fact sheet.   
• The Newton Police should use de-escalation procedures during protests and ICE actions so long as they don’t interfere with immigration enforcement. 
• The City should inform all City employees in writing of the City’s policies regarding ICE actions in Newton, specifying what employees can and cannot do.  
• The Newton Police should fully investigate any property damage or potential criminal conduct by federal agents. 
• Federal agents acting in Newton should have easy-to-read identification and not wear masks or other face coverings.   
• The highest priority is to protect those most vulnerable in our community and those who are the most likely targets of ICE.
• Newton should not rent space to ICE for any purpose. 
• Post signs at the city’s borders that Newton is a Welcoming City. 

These are steps that many cities have taken. Newton should do the same to protect its residents against ICE’s unlawful activity.

Showing up in person is best. If you are not able to show up in person to demonstrate your concern, you may attend the meeting virtually here. In addition, you may share your opinions with all City Councilors at citycouncil@newtonma.gov and the Mayor at mlaredo@newtonma.gov.