Nearly 50 Newton North High School students left class an hour early Sept. 11 and marched to City Hall, chanting and carrying signs that told immigration officials to stay out of Newton.

The walkout came a day after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained two people outside Newton District Court and City Hall on Sept. 10, the first confirmed ICE presence in the city during Mayor Marc Laredo's tenure, The Heights reported. One person was taken into custody. A second, an acquaintance who had been driving a nearby vehicle, was stopped in front of City Hall and later released, according to Patch.

Three days after the walkout, the Newton School Committee voted unanimously on Monday, Sept. 14, to adopt the state's PROTECT Act. The law bars federal immigration agents from making warrantless arrests at public schools, courthouses, childcare centers and healthcare facilities. Gov. Maura Healey signed it on Aug. 5, and every Massachusetts school district is required to adopt a written policy on interacting with civil law enforcement under the act.

Tyler Vazquez, a Newton North senior and School Committee student representative, told the Newton Beacon that the mood of the walkout was "slightly grim" compared to previous student protests because the ICE arrests had happened so close to home.

"If we're not able to stand up in a case that involves going against schools or teachers, what are we going to do when it's the U.S. government?" Vazquez said.

Interim principal Lisa Gilbert-Smith emailed families after the walkout, saying students who participated would receive an unexcused absence. Newton Public Schools said no further discipline would follow. A district spokesperson added that students who report being affected by immigration enforcement will receive counseling and access to resources.

The Newton Teachers Association backed the students' action, saying in a statement that it supports the walkout as an act of civil disobedience in defense of Newton's immigrant community.

At the Sept. 14 meeting, Laredo said his administration has worked with the Newton Police Department to keep residents safe but will not ask officers to put themselves in danger by interfering with federal agents. He said there is a balance between what the city can do and what it cannot, calling on the committee to adopt the state's version of the policy for now while leaving room for future amendments.

During public comment, a mother of two Newton Public Schools students asked the district to extend protections beyond school buildings to bus stops and walking routes.

Newton already has a Welcoming City ordinance limiting police cooperation with ICE. Laredo signed an executive order in February reaffirming that status and barring ICE from using city property for operations.