From Mayor Laredo's February 5th Newton Update:

"This afternoon, I proudly stood with Mayor Michelle Wu and leaders from communities across Greater Boston to reaffirm our belief in democracy and the rule of law as we continue to witness the actions of masked federal ICE agents in cities such as Minneapolis and Portland.

The City of Newton is a Welcoming City. As Mayor, I remain committed to the safety, dignity, and well-being of every person who lives, works and visits our community.

To that end, working together with our Newton Police Department, School Superintendent Anna Nolin and School Committee leadership, City Council leadership, the City Solicitor and my executive team, I have signed an Executive Order Regarding City Response to Federal Immigration Operations.

The Order I signed today reaffirms our values as a Welcoming City and makes clear that our well-trained, professional Newton police officers will follow established protocols and long-standing practices to maintain the rule of law and ensure that public safety remains paramount across the City.

The Executive Order also restricts the use of public property for civil immigration enforcement operations.

There is nothing in this order that would restrict or interfere with the execution of court orders or lawful judicial warrants or the enforcement of criminal laws.

Read the Executive Order in its entirety here: https://www.newtonma.gov/home/showdocument?id=135816&t=639058816934982764

The International Association of Chiefs of Police recently issued a statement calling on the White House to convene a joint Federal-State-Local discussion on public safety, writing, in part, that “effective public safety depends on comprehensive training, investigative integrity, adherence to the rule of law, and strong coordination among federal, state, and local partners.”

I agree that such an important discussion is necessary to ensure the safety of residents and visitors in Massachusetts and other cities across the nation.

Read the entire statement here: https://www.theiacp.org/news/official-statements/iacp-calls-on-white-house-to-convene-joint-federal-state-local-discussion

Mayor Marc C. Laredo"